Obituaries

THE VENERABLE TOM THURLOW Tom passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at Deer Lodge Centre, Winnipeg, MB with his family by his side. Dad, who was a retired priest of the Anglican Church of Canada, was 91 years of age. Dad was predeceased by his beloved wife, Joyce on March 23, 2002 and will be lovingly remembered by his daughters Corrie-Mae (Bruce) Farmer, Gillian (Allen) Michaels; son Graham (Cheryl); along with grandsons Kelly and Kyle Michaels; and granddaughter Madison Thurlow, all of Winnipeg. On May 5, 1922 Dad was born in Aspatria, Cumberland, England, the only child of Jane Marrs Armstrong and Thomas Rex Thurlow. In 1928, Tom, along with his mother, immigrated to Canada (Winnipeg) to join his father who had come over in 1926. After graduating from Kelvin High School in 1939, Tom began to get more involved with church work and in 1941 he received his Lay Reader’s License with the Diocese of Rupertsland. After two years of work at Dyson’s Pickles, Dad decided he needed a change and on August 14, 1942 he joined the Army. He served overseas with the Signal Corps (Royal Canadian Corp of Signals). In 1946, after being released by the Army he returned to Winnipeg and later that year entered St. John’s College at the University of Manitoba to study Theology. After graduating in 1950 he was ordained into the Diaconate in June of that year and in May of 1951 he was ordained into the priesthood at St. Matthews Pro Cathedral in Brandon, MB. This is when Dad began his career and while serving in Hamiota, MB he met his wife-to-be, Joyce Rutherford. In May of 1954 they were married and for the next 35 years they served together in numerous parishes throughout Manitoba, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Alberta finally retiring (sort of) to Alsask, SK. They lived there until Mom’s passing and in September 2002 Dad moved into Winnipeg to be closer to his family. In May 2010 Dad moved into the Veterans Ward at Deer Lodge Centre. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date in Winnipeg to celebrate Tom’s life. Shortly thereafter he will be interred (beside the love of his life) in the Rutherford family plot in Hamiota, MB. The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and all other support staff on Tower 7 for the excellent care they gave Tom while he was a resident there and for the compassion shown to his family in the last week of his life. Flowers gratefully declined. If so desired, donations may be made in Tom’s memory to Deer Lodge Centre Foundation, 2109 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, R3J 0L3 or St. John’s College, 92 Dysart Road, Winnipeg, R3T 2X8. Wojcik’s Winnipeg Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, 2157 Portage Ave., 204-897-4665, is in care of arrangements. wojciksfuneralchapel.com Goodbye Grandpa – you will be truly missed. Take care, Dad – say Hi to Mom for us.   As published in the Winnipeg Free Press on March 29, 2014