Audrey Marguerite (Maguire) Sundell

Audrey Marguerite Sundell (nee Maguire)

June 5, 1928 - July 15, 2023

Audrey Marguerite Sundell (nee Maguire) passed away peacefully at the Assiniboine Centre in Brandon, MB, on Saturday July 15, 2023, at the age of 95 years.

Audrey leaves to mourn Tom, her husband of 73 years, daughter Arlene Wilson (Allan MacDonald), sons Rick (Myrna) Sundell and Morley (Kathleen) Sundell, grandchildren Jeff (Laura) Sundell, Tammy (Jean Claude) Vigier, Monica (Stéphane) Geirnaert, Nicholas Sundell (Kassandra Wytinck), Stephanie (Matthieu) Deroche, Jeremy Sundell, Elliott Sundell (friend Leah), Kirk (Kayla) Sundell, Paul, Bridget, Daniel, Francis and Cecilia Sundell, along with 17 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Eileen Sagman, brother Glenn (Marion) Maguire and brother in law Bob Hughes.

Audrey was predeceased by her parents, by grandson Craig Sundell, brothers Melford, George (Jean, Sheila), Jack and sisters Gwenda Hughes and Verbena (Howard )Turnbull, brother in law Arnold Sagman and all of Tom’s siblings and their spouses.

Audrey was born on the Maguire home farm south of Elgin Manitoba, the third oldest of eight children born to Eddie and Eva (nee Carroll) Maguire. Being one of the older children, Audrey was called on to assist with many chores on the farm, particularly with meal preparation and cleanup, laundry, canning, gardening and attending to her younger siblings. Audrey loved the many weekend old time dances in Elgin, Souris, or Riverside when she would hop in the old car with her older siblings Melford and Eileen. Music was a big part of the Maguire family, as her dad played multiple instruments in the local bands.

Audrey attended Elgin School, graduating in 1946. She enjoyed her time at school and the rides to school with the horse and sleigh driven by her dad. She chose teaching as her profession, attending Normal School in Winnipeg for one year before beginning her teaching career in a small country school west of Holland, Selton School. It was there that she met Tom Sundell, and after one more year of teaching in Roseisle, they were married on Oct. 22, 1949. The newlyweds then settled on the home farm west of Holland where they operated a mixed farm. They welcomed their first child Arlene in 1951, followed by Rick in 1955 and Morley in 1958.

Throughout these years, Audrey dedicated her time to the farm family lifestyle. When Morley started school in 1964, Audrey taught grades 3 and 4 at the Holland School for one year. After that, she did some substitute teaching for a few years.

Tom and Audrey were involved in the community with the Recreation Association, curling and with their children’s activities such as hockey, baseball, music and 4-H. In 1984, they moved to town, purchasing a home on Pentland Street. Audrey enjoyed the town life that included regular coffee shop stops where she could showcase her story telling abilities, particularly a good joke. In their retirement years, fishing and golf became regular activities as well as the occasional trip south in the winter months to Texas, Arizona, or Vegas. Around this time, they welcomed their first grandchild and savored the many joyous occasions spent with all their grandchildren, 14 in all.

After more than thirty years in their Pentland house, they then moved to a suite in the Villa on Broadway Street. The family continued to grow with their seventeenth great grandchild arriving in May. Tom moved to personal care in Glenboro last year and Audrey moved to the Holland Manor where she resided until her passing.

Funeral service will be held in the Holland United Church on Friday, July 21, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. with Heather Grobb officiating.  Interment will take place in the Brookdale Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to STARS air ambulance, 1441 Aviation Park NE, Box 570, Calgary, AB, T2E 8M7.

Online condolences can be sent to the Sundell family by visiting Audrey’s profile page at www.willmorchapel.com.  Jamieson’s Funeral Services of Holland in care of arrangements.

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