Obituary of Ann Decima

(Elizabeth) Ann was born in 1940 to the late William and Rose (Carlson) McAlister of Belmont, Manitoba. She married David T. H. Decima in July 1960 and they lived in Boissevain and Belmont before moving to Morris in 1972. Ann was a determined person who mastered each challenge she met. She had many farm chores as a young girl and was involved with the local 4-H. Her work life included a bank position in Winnipeg, helping at the creamery back home, owning the well-known Ingleby’s Clothing store in Belmont, clerk at Murray’s Store in Morris, receptionist for lawyers Braun, Schmidt & Gregory and doctors R. Manness and A. Loewen in Morris, and photojournalist for the Southeast Journal in Emerson. She and David bred, raised, and showed Arabian horses and Welsh ponies. Ann volunteered with many local groups, including the Morris Stampede, Citizens on Patrol, and the community gardens. Hobbies included square dancing, ceramics, gardening, photography, camping, knitting, fiction writing, reading, curling, and painting with the art club. Her favourite place was the family farm near Belmont. One of Ann’s best recent memories was a trip to Ireland in the fall of 2019, meeting the McAlister cousins. Ann was predeceased by her parents Bill in 1976 and Rose in 1998, and husband David in 2001. Ann is survived by her brother Ken (Pat) McAlister and their two girls; Michelle (Shawn) Anderson with Taeven and Lachlan, and Diane (Gord) Norris – all of Calgary, Alberta. Numerous cousins on the Carlson side include Lance & Carole Carlson and Sandra Freeman of Killarney and their families, Ken Hamm (Altona), Onez & Vince Matthews (Pincher Creek, Alberta) as well as numerous other cousins in the McLean, Lambkin, and associated branches across Canada. There are Karlsson cousins in Sweden and McAlister cousins throughout Ireland and in Scotland and England, and on David’s side there are Decima and Wilson families. Friends from Belmont and Boissevain areas as well as the past 50 years in Morris are too numerous to mention, at the risk of missing a name or two. The family wishes to acknowledge the amazing cancer care team of doctors and staff in Winnipeg and Winkler, Dr. Manness for his steadfast support, Home Care team (Jenn, Debbie, Val, Margaret, Heidi, Morgan, and Gayle), courtesy driver May, and local friends who offered support in the last few months. We thank the professional and compassionate nursing staff of the Palliative Care team at Morris General Hospital. Ann’s funeral service will be at Morris United Church on Tuesday, October 24 at 2:00 p.m. Interment to follow at Hillside Cemetery at Belmont. We thank both Morris Funeral Home and Jamieson’s Funeral Home (Glenboro). Floral tributes gratefully declined. Please consider a donation to the Morris Area Foundation Inc (Box 282 Morris, MB R0G 1K0), Cancer Care Manitoba (1160, 675 McDermott Ave Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9), or a charity of your choice.