After an extended illness, Glenda (Gillis) Keefe passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 4th, 2024 at Pinecrest Home for the Aged. She was 88 years old.
Left behind to mourn are her son Howard (Dianna), daughter Carolyn (Morris), sister Violet Anne, granddaughters Hannah and Isabelle, grandsons Garrett and Graham (Anna), great grandson Moss, great granddaughter Romy, numerous nieces, nephews, and close friends.
Glenda was predeceased by her husband Vernon, brothers Rudy and Robert, sisters Gloria, Lillian and Georgina, parents Archibald and Elvina, niece Christine, and nephew Jay.
Glenda was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, but spent most of her life residing in various cities and towns across Northwestern Ontario, until she decided to permanently settle in Kenora in 1995.
Her residence at the Parkview Apartments was always filled with the smell of “comfort” foods cooking. Anyone who stopped in to visit would never leave hungry, and sometimes be forced to eat, even if they weren’t hungry.
When Glenda wasn’t cooking, she was gardening. She took great pleasure digging, planting, and chasing deer away that were dining on her flowers.
As colourful as the flowers she planted in summer were, so was Glenda’s vocabulary of what she thought of the winters; but still she stayed, because family was in Kenora, and family was most important to her.
Glenda’s children were her life. She would defend them with the ferocity of a lion, and support them no matter what; even if they weren’t in the right.
Conversations with Glenda always provided much laughter as her unique, unfiltered sense of humour was comparable to no other. Glenda loved to laugh, and make others laugh with her.
Glenda could be direct and a bit prickly at times, however, those who truly got to know the person behind the tough exterior, soon realized that they had met the most soft-hearted, loving person that would always be there for them.
A Celebration of Glenda’s Life will take place at a later date.
To honour Glenda, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of Kenora / Rainy River Districts, 618 9th St N, Kenora, Ontario, P9N 2S9
“Your presence may have left this earth, but your love, memories, and laughter live on forever in our hearts.”