Noreen Eleanor (McBrien) Craven

Our Mom, Noreen Eleanor Craven (McBrien), passed away peacefully on Tuesday, April 18th, 2023 at the age of 93, after spending her final weeks at Deer Lodge in Winnipeg. Left to mourn are her “kids” including Gary Craven, Ian Craven (Barb) and Sandra Craven (Clint Miller), her grandchildren Curtis Craven (Patti), Trevor and Sara (Mike Keast), and her great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Earl Craven, grandson Dustin Craven, and daughter-in-law Ann Bailey.

Mom was born in Deloraine, Manitoba to Agnes and Arthur McBrien. She spent much of her life in southwest Manitoba; going to grade school in Pierson, Melita and then Elva, and high school in Gainsborough, Saskatchewan. After high school she worked in the Royal Bank in Pierson and married Earl in 1950 and farmed north of Pierson.  During those years, we spent a lot of time with our Craven cousins. Mom retired to Pierson in 1978 and later moved to Winnipeg in 2000 to be closer to her family. Although she spent many of her later years in Winnipeg, Mom’s heart remained in the Pierson area.

Mom was a community-minded person and a member of the Rebekahs Lodge, Women’s Institute, and a 4-H leader. She loved to curl and bonspiel, watch hockey at the Pierson rink, and play cards with friends. She enjoyed travelling to watch several Canadian and world curling championships with friends. She always had a large vegetable garden on the farm. As we were growing up, Mom spent many hours sewing, crocheting, and teaching many others these skills.

She led a lot of family shopping trips to Minot, Brandon and occasionally we went on excursions to Winnipeg to shop and visit family. Mom loved to travel, and she travelled with family and friends on many road trips to places like Niagara Falls, Florida, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Texas, and the Rockies. Usually, she was the one with the courage to be the driver through large cities and mountain roads. She later enjoyed trips to east coast of Canada and overseas to Ireland, Spain, and Hawaii.

Although mom didn’t really like the water (she joked that she did not even like to wash her hair) she helped many people, including her children learn how to swim and water ski during many years enjoying the cabin at Lake Metigoshe. She loved to spend time driving the boat to take us water skiing. She also enjoyed long boat rides around the lake and taking short excursions in the paddle boat.

Mom occasionally spent time that we will treasure at Sandra and Clint’s cabin near Lac Du Bonnet, where she enjoyed pontoon boat rides, barbecues, and simply spending time in the country. Mom continued to travel after moving to Winnipeg, going on many trips with Gary and his family.

Mom was a loving and supportive mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who always put her family first. She was proud of all our achievements and encouraged us to follow our dreams. She was a loyal friend who kept in touch with many people from her hometown and beyond. She was generous with her time and resources, always ready to lend a hand or a listening ear. She was a strong woman who faced many challenges in her life with courage and grace. She taught us many valuable lessons that we will carry with us forever.

The family wants to thank the staff at Deer Lodge and Seine River Retirement Residence for the excellent care, kindness and compassion given to our mother.

A private interment at the Pierson Cemetery will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Canadian Diabetes Association, 310 Broadway, Winnipeg, MB. R3C 0S6 or to a charity of one's choice.

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