Gloria Jean Cairns

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Gloria Jean Cairns

   Very peacefully, and surrounded by her family at home, after a short battle with cancer, it is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our deeply loved wife, mom, grandma (gram gram), sister, aunt and dear friend, Gloria Jean Cairns on Thursday, February 25th, 2021 at the age of 72.

   Gloria was born in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba on July 31st, 1948.  She was raised in Austin, Manitoba with her parents Roy and Marjorie Snaith (nee Laurens) and brothers Dick and Larry.  Gloria met Orvil at Austin School.  Gloria moved to Winnipeg after high school and began working as a Nanny and then got a job at the Bank of Montreal.  She later transferred to the Bank of Montreal in Portage where Gloria and Orvil began their lives together. They were married on October 14th, 1967 and raised their 3 children together, Scott (1969), Dean (1970) and Kimberly (1975).  Gloria was a stay-at-home mom for many years.  She also took pleasure in caring for close friends’ children when they had to work.  Gloria spent much time as an apprentice/receptionist in Orvil’s real estate adventures and Dean’s locksmith business and was also well known for her wine making abilities.

   Gloria was loved by all she met.  She had a heart of gold and would do anything for anyone. She especially loved spending time with her grandchildren.  She loved just hanging out with them, listening to them, laughing at, and with them.  If they needed a ride, Grandma’s chauffeur service would take them wherever they needed to go. 

    Gloria was affectionately known by many nicknames such as “Go-Go”, “Sweetheart” and “Mama-Bear”.  Gloria and Orvil loved to entertain and always had an open-door policy.  The kitchen table was the gathering spot and many stories were both shared and made there.  You never left the Cairns’ home without having had a good belly laugh and a story to share. 

    With Orvil’s passion for selling real estate, Gloria found herself in many situations where she was suddenly packing up the house and moving as Orvil had sold the home they were living in, but Gloria welcomed each new adventure.  She always said that there was never a dull moment living with Orvil, and she loved every minute.  It was never the house that made the home, it was the family and the people they surrounded themselves with.

    Left to cherish Gloria’s memory is her loving husband Orvil, sons; Scott and grandchildren Alex and Micheal of Winnipeg, son Dean (Angela) and grandchildren Breanna, Cord, William and Brooke, daughter Kim and granddaughter Emily of Portage, brothers; Dick (Barb) Snaith of Carberry and Larry Snaith of Portage, along with several special nieces, nephews, cousins and many, many special friends.

    Gloria was predeceased by her parents, Roy and Marjorie Snaith and parents-in-law Russell and Mildred (Millie) Cairns.

    In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Gloria’s name to Sunset Palliative Care, 40 Royal Road North, Portage la Prairie, MB  R1N 1V1 or Central Plains Cancer Services, 318 Sask. Ave. E, Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 0K8 or Muscular Dystrophy Canada for Myotonic Dystrophy, 50 Eileen Stubbs Avenue, Unit 120, Dartmouth, NS  B3B 0M7 - www.muscle.ca.  A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. 

Messages of condolences can be made online at www.omegafuneralhome.com

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