Linda Furness (Matheson)

Obituary

Passed on March 13, 2024

Linda passed peacefully into her next life on March 13, 2024 at Rosewood Lodge in Stonewall. She was born on January 12, 1919 on the family farm at Grassmere to Arthur and Mysie Matheson.

Mom was the last of her generation of 18 Matheson cousins and at 105 years she had many wonderful and interesting memories of the last century. We feel truly blessed to have been able to share those extra years of her life. Her mind and recollection of history remained very strong.

Mom attended Tecumseh school and then went on to graduate from Stonewall Collegiate first in her class. She was called upon to nurse her Dad and then her Aunt Annie for a number of years and then she went to business college and worked for a few years before she married our Dad, Gordon Furness in 1948. She and Dad took over the family farm in 1954 which had been homesteaded by her grandfather Alexander Matheson in 1873. The family celebrated 150 years of continuous family farming on the homestead last summer and Mom was in attendance.

Mom was involved in her community. Grassmere United Church, Tecumseh School, Ladies Aid, United Church Women, Rockwood Horticultural Society, Stonewall Hospital Auxiliary, 4-H, all benefited from her volunteerism. She was also a member of The Lord Selkirk Association of Rupert’s Land and was very knowledgeable about the rich family history and the family’s Scottish roots. She was a dedicated visitor to those who might have been shut in or to her friends.

Mom and Dad enjoyed winters away in the south for a number of years. Gordon passed away in 1987 and after his passing Mom took a trip to England to visit his family who she had corresponded with for forty years but whom she had never met. She moved to Lions Manor in Stonewall in 2004 and lived there independently until her 101st year when a fall left her with a broken neck that resulted in a lengthy hospital stay and her eventual move to Rosewood Personal Care in Stonewall. She bore this change with an amazing stoic resolve and never complained about her situation. She was grateful for her long, full life and she was sustained by her strong faith.

She was much loved by her three daughters, Phyllis (Doug Fraser), Patricia (Rod Harris) and Judy (Kevin Cosens) and their children, Aaron Lowe (Laura), Jordan Lowe (Angela), Josh Lowe, Jenna (Matt Molitowsky), Brett Harris (Kelly), Lauren (Chad Wiebe), Carmen (Chad Rempel) and Sloane Cosens and fourteen great-grandchildren, Braden, Beckum, Brixtyn, Elliott, Callan, Levi, Lily, Penny, Sully, Rocco, Jack, Arie, Boston and Cohen. Besides her husband she was predeceased by her parents Arthur and Mysie Matheson and her sister, Marion McCoy and brother-in-law Bob McCoy, and her brother-in-law, Walter Furness and his wife Lillian.

The family would like to thank the many wonderful staff who so kindly cared for her at Rosewood Personal Care and before that at Stonewall and Teulon Hospitals. Your kindness was very much appreciated, especially in the last few weeks.

Funeral will be held at Stonewall United Church on Saturday, March 23rd at 11:00 a.m. with a lunch to follow.

Flowers are gratefully declined. Those wishing to do so may wish to remember Linda through a charity of your choice.

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