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Sixty-one years after Virginia Cook learned where her mother was buried, she has joined her.
Virginia, whose spirit name was Yellow Bird Sitting On A Nest, was 76 years old when she died on Nov. 22, following a five-year bout with cancer.
Virginia was born in Kenora and raised there, as well as in Ignace, Thunder Bay and Winnipeg.
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She went to school at the Cecila Jeffery Residential School, also known as the Shoal Lake School. It’s the same school 12-year-old Chanie Wenjack ran away from and died of exposure in 1966, a story later immortalized in the late Gord Downie’s book Secret Path.
Virginia’s family were members of Shoal Lake #39, or Iskatewizaagfegan 39 Independent First Nation but, as Virginia told APTN during a 2017 interview, they moved from there to Kenora because her parents, who had both been to residential schools themselves, were addicted to alcohol.
“We did have a house in Shoal Lake, Ont., but we didn’t stay there because they wanted to be close to alcohol.”
In the same interview, Virginia said she was 11 when she and her two younger sisters were taken from their parents by what is now known as Child and Family Services. She was able to go home twice, but she became a permanent ward when she was 13 in 1961.
That was the last Virginia saw of her mother. Two years later, she was told her mother had died.
Virginia went on to graduate as a registered nurse at St. Boniface Hospital. She worked with victims of domestic violence at Ikew-Widdjiitiwin until she retired.
Virginia Cook
Then, bored with retirement, Virginia went back to school, graduating as a medical lab technician, and working at Mount Carmel doing blood work.
When she was taken from her parents as a child, Virginia was placed with a family in Ignace, but she never lost her language. Her family says she spoke fluent Ojibway and, whenever her brothers and sisters came for dinner, that’s the only language you would hear spoken.
But through the years and then the decades, Virginia, and her siblings, always wondered where their mother’s final resting place was.
When Virginia applied for her old age pension, and needed her birth certificate, she realized she had been looking for years for Louisa Williamson, but her mom’s name was really Maggie Louise Williamson.
That’s how her journey finally brought her to Brookside Cemetery in 2017 where she found her mother’s burial site, marked by only a small, circular piece of concrete with the number 814 on it.
Two years later, the family saved enough to buy a headstone.
“It kind of hit me how she must have been buried, being alone and all,” she told APTN. “I just wanted to honour her in any way that I can.
“There are many children that were apprehended, and still are getting apprehended, who don’t know where their parents are. So sharing this story could maybe give someone hope and a bit of light.”
The story has now gone full circle.
Sixty years after last seeing her mother, Virginia has been reunited with her. She found where her mother was buried, and she is now interred in the same cemetery.
Virginia is survived by her four sons, one daughter, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her dad, two sisters and a brother.
Read more about Virginia.
How They Lived
Phil Veness was known for his empathy for families with children with disabilities.
Phil, who died on Nov. 14 at 73 years of age, was a behaviour specialist in Brandon before he became a disability services worker in Selkirk, helping children and families for 38 years.
Phil advocated for his two daughters, who had autism, and he volunteered for the Autism Society of Manitoba and served as its president for several years, becoming known by the nickname Mr. Autism.
He also volunteered at the Dalnavert Museum and gave guided tours, even finding period costumes to wear.
Read more about Phil.
Phil Veness
Betty Churko read the Free Press religiously for decades.
Betty, who was 93 when she died on Nov. 27, would give her family clippings of articles she thought they would be interested in, and cut out obituaries to save.
That’s why her family says: “she would be thrilled if you saved hers.”
Read more about Betty.
Betty Churko
Jeff Funnell was an artist who had a long career as a professor at the University of Manitoba’s fine arts department.
Jeff, who died on Nov. 23 at 83 years of age, created many works of arts through the decades.
One of his most notable works was ‘Notes from the Inquest’, made up of 90 drawings he did while attending the J.J. Harper inquest. It was exhibited widely, including at the MacKenzie Art Gallery in Ontario.
Read more about Jeff.
Jeff Funnell
Marjorie Doyle joined the Girl Guides when she was eight and never left.
In fact, Marjorie, who was 77 when she died on Nov. 15, was part of the organization until the day she died.
Marjorie held many positions in Girl Guides and rose to be provincial commissioner.
Her family said Marjorie truly believed it was the best organization for girls and women.
Read more about Marjorie.
Marjorie Doyle
Harry Schellenberg was a teacher.
Harry, who died on Nov. 20 at 85 years of age, began his career after graduating from Mennonite Collegiate Institute in Gretna, Man.
He taught in rural and Winnipeg schools, including 25 years at River East Collegiate and several years at Stony Mountain Correctional Institution.
Harry was the founding president of the Manitoba Parents for German Education and he helped bring the German bilingual program to River East School Division in 1981.
He was elected NDP MLA for Rossmere in 1993 and served for a decade under Premier Gary Doer, including as deputy speaker.
Read more about Harry.
Harry Schellenberg
A Life’s Story
The last of the many goodies Gregory John Franklin baked during his life and career was a pie with a happy face carved into the crust.
Greg, who died in August at age 65, graduated from Red River College’s culinary arts program, specializing in baking, and went on to be a longtime baker at Kub Bakery before finally realizing his dream of owning and operating his own bakery when he bought Oma’s Bake Shop on Henderson Highway.
Gregory John Franklin
“Oma’s Bake Shop wasn’t merely a place of business — it was a warm and welcoming place where people gathered, exchanged stories, and experienced Greg’s exceptional talent,” said his sister Teresa Smith.
“He was known for baking the best cinnamon buns ever, the best apple jacks ever, and the best eccles cakes ever: delights that keep people coming back for more.”
Read more about Greg’s life here.
A pillar of Winnipeg’s burgeoning 1980s punk scene, Mitch Funk cut a linebacker-sized silhouette in dimly lit basement and barroom venues.
Mitch, who died on Monday at age 65 after a lengthy battle with the blood cancer multiple myeloma, was known for climbing amplifiers fast, falling to his knees hard, and only counting his bruises the next day.
Mitch Funk
Mitch was behind the microphone for Personality Crisis, a band that developed a cult-like following on the strength of his out-of-the-box showmanship and the roaring, soaring brand of punk rock.
“Winnipeg punk rock royalty has lost a king,” says Deb Wall, a fellow member of the ‘80s punk scene.
Read more about Mitch’s life here.
Until next time, I hope you continue to write your own life’s story.
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