Dr. Wendy Ruth Mooney

Daughter, sister, aunt, niece, radiant friend, physician and overall creative woman, Wendy Mooney born November 2, 1961, in Winnipeg; died on May 17, 2015, in Ottawa, ON, aged 53, after a courageous battle with cancer and related complications.

Predeceased by her father, Verne; Wendy will be lovingly remembered and sorely missed by her Mother, Ruth of Cartwright, MB, her brother Bill, sister-in-law Diane, and nieces Lauren, and Haley Mooney of West Vancouver, BC. The loss is shared by her extraordinary, aunts, uncle and numerous cousins and her extended family in BC. Blessed with many remarkable friendships that span the country and beyond; we would be remiss to not thank Asma, Carol, Lesley, Meri, and Allen and all those special people that visited the hospital; entertaining and supporting Wendy and her family these past months.

Growing up in Winnipeg, attending and excelling at Glenlawn Collegiate and the University of Manitoba; Wendy made her family so very proud on receiving her M.D. in 1986. In demand at the Lombard Concourse Medical Centre, she served her community for nearly 20 years and in doing so she made many lifelong friends and a difference in countless lives. Opportunity knocked many times, but a chance to combine her love of science and medicine along with her desire to serve was too great an opportunity and in 2005, Wendy moved to Ottawa to join the Clinical Evaluations Division of Health Canada. In her 10 years HC-SC, her accomplishments and awards would continue and most importantly, her extended ‘family’ of amazing friends and colleagues would grow.

Artist, photographer, musician and consumer of books; a poet, author, journal contributor and reviewer as well as symphony, opera and theatre aficionado, she was one of few who could at one moment talk of science at the extreme level and quickly turn to see the beauty in life through all forms of the arts. As a defender of the weak, Wendy was not afraid to stand up for what she believed to be right. A traveller to the very end, despite her illnesses, she made a final tour of the South Pacific a few months before hospitalization.

The family wishes to extend its warmest thanks to the wonderful teams at Ottawa General (especially 5 East) and St. Vincent Hospitals for their kindness and compassion. To all the friends and family who have helped us with this part of the journey, take heart in knowing that Wendy’s spirit is continuing its travels and rest assure she is checking out the sites for us. You couldn’t ask for a better tour-guide.

Cremation has taken place and a celebration of her life will be held in Ottawa in the coming days. In lieu of travel to Ottawa, later this summer, family and friends will also be invited to gather in Manitoba to join in a time of sharing and remembrance. Details of both celebrations will be published in the coming days.

In lieu of flowers, the family graciously requests that donations be made to your charity of choice or to "Dr. Wendy Mooney Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Cartwright and Area Foundation INC., P.O. Box 396, Cartwright, Manitoba, R0K 0L0" for a graduating student at the Cartwright Independent School pursuing post-secondary education; The annual scholarship is to be awarded to a deserving student who demonstrates a passion for Arts or Sciences.