OSWALD
EDWARD WHITTEN
July
18, 1926 – January 28, 2013
Peacefully, after a lengthy struggle
with vascular dementia, Ozzie passed away at Deer Lodge Centre at the age of 86
years.
Left to cherish Ozzie’s memory are
his partner and best friend, Russ Thompson; sister Donna Magee of Melfort, SK;
brother Wally Whitten of Boissevain, MB; sister in law Sylvia Whitten of High
River, AB; brother in law Bill McMechan of Kelowna, BC; as well as nieces and
nephews. He was predeceased by his parents John and Debby (Smithson); sister
Vera McMechan and brother Bob Whitten.
Ozzie was born in Pipestone, MB and
grew up on the family farm near Elgin, MB. He taught school briefly near
Hartney, MB before being drafted into the army in 1944. After his discharge in
1945, Ozzie worked for the Canadian Bank of Commerce for ten years, at branches
in SK, northwest ON and in Winnipeg. He grew tired of balancing people’s cheque
books and cleaning out files however, and his earlier short stint as a teacher
beckoned him back. In the late 1950’s he enrolled at United College (U. of W.)
and obtained his degree. His high school teaching career began in Roland, MB
and continued in Gladstone, MB for 27 years before his relocation to
Charleswood in 1994.
Ozzie loved language and taught
French and English throughout his career. He continued his studies with courses
at the Université de Laval in Quebec City and at the Université de Poitiers’
Language Institute in Tours, France. He also taught for a year in Lachute,
Quebec at the height of the F.L.Q. Crisis in 1970.
Another love of Ozzie’s life was
drama and he produced many musicals and plays while in Gladstone. He even took
drama classes at the Banff School of Fine Arts where one of his classmates was
a young Michael J. Fox!
And all this from a farm boy who did
so poorly in school that he had to repeat part of his grade 12 in order to get
his high school diploma!
Perhaps Ozzie’s greatest passion was
art. He loved to interpret the works of the Impressionists and his paintings
are in private collections in many parts of the world.
Travel was also a great part of
Ozzie’s life and, with his partner, there were many trips to Mexico, the USA,
New Zealand, the Caribbean and Europe, especially France and Portugal. Spending
a month in Paris would be a highlight in anyone’s life.
Ozzie loved to cook, loved a good
party and loved good times with good friends. In short, he loved life and loved
people!
Our great thanks to all the staff
and caregivers on T3 at Deer Lodge Centre. Their kindness and devotion was
exemplary through Ozzie’s months of residency, and they became our friends.
A reception celebrating Ozzie’s life
will be held at Charleswood United Church, 4820 Roblin Boulevard on Thursday,
March 7, 2013 at 2:00 p.m.
Richard
Wojcik, Funeral Director of Wojcik’s Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, is in
care of arrangements, 204 – 897 - 4665.
Ozzie, it’s been a pleasure and a privilege knowing you,
and a heck of a lot of fun!
Wojcik’s
FUNERAL CHAPEL & CREMATORIUM
2157 PORTAGE AVENUE
204 – 897 - 4665
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