Cheryl Jill Patricia Whittaker (McCullough)

Obituary

Passed on

With heavy hearts and a lot of love, we announce the passing of Cheryl Jill Patricia Whittaker (McCullough) on March 21st, 2025, at the age of 69, after a brief but fierce battle with cancer. She left us too soon but not before filling our lives with laughter, joy, and an endless amount of unforgettable antics.

Cheryl / Mudd / Aunt B / CJ / BFF / Cej / Shed / OBMBLS was the light of any room, the life of every party, and always the first to suggest or comment with something a little offbeat (often followed by a cheeky wink, though we all knew better).

Cheryl leaves behind her only daughter, Kaylin (Rob), her siblings Jeff (Shirley), Mike (Missy), and Michelle (Scott), along with her nieces and nephews – Joshua (Leanne), Jenna (Jordan), Josh, Alex, Rhea, and Kenzie, as well as her great-nieces and nephews. All of whom will miss her in their own special ways as she was so special to each of them.

Cheryl was predeceased by her parents, Bill and Grace, and reunited with her life-partner, Jim, with whom she shared many years of love, cribbage, and motorcycle adventures. And of course, who could forget her trusty sidekick and furry companion, Finn.  

Cheryl was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and later moved to Rennie, Oakbank, Teulon, and eventually Stonewall, where she spent most of her teen years building great friendships and playing ball. In her 20s, Cheryl made the bold move to pack up and head west to Alberta to start her new adventure in the big city. It was there she began her career in oil and gas and raised her daughter with laughter and baseball. Cheryl spent most of her adult life in Calgary, making countless friendships, many of which were coworkers. She created her lifelong bond with her BFF and partner in crime, Cindy, often sharing all of life’s ups and downs over a tall vanilla latte.

When she retired after 40 years in her career in 2018, Cheryl’s only desire was to move ‘home’ to Manitoba to be closer to her family and reconnect with old friends. It was a decision that brought her so much joy as she rekindled cherished connections and embraced her life in a new peaceful rhythm, with Finn always by her side. Their bond was so special, and were it not for that chocolate sausage, she may never have found her new circle of great friends at the 11 o’clock Stonewall Dog Park Crew. She was the founding member of this pack, and the two-legged as well as four-legged were all so special to her. One of her biggest joys in life was her yard and flower garden, which quickly became the exclusive hot spot for most of Stonewall’s squirrel and bluejay population, where they splashed in the year-round bird bath and ate like kings.

Her sense of humor, her heart of gold, and her ability to make everyone around her feel welcome are only a few of the many things we will miss about her. While her absence leaves a big hole, we find comfort in knowing she’s no longer in pain and reunited with those she loved, cracking jokes, taking endless naps, and keeping everyone entertained with her signature “Cheryl” wit, all the while cheering on her Winnipeg Jets and Bombers from heaven.

A celebration of Cheryl’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the MS Society or an animal rescue foundation of your choice in honour of Cheryl’s beloved Finn.

---

Comments