Winchester, Edith Velma

WINCHESTER, Edith Velma (nee Dunstan) September 23, 1927 – February 8, 2024 WINCHESTER, (Edith) Velma passed away in her 97th year on Thursday, February 8th at Longfields Manor, Ottawa, after a long illness. Beloved wife of the late Wes Winchester, and loving mother of Donald (Marilyn) of Ottawa. Loving grandmother of Jamesee (Marianne) of Lower Sackville, N.S., and Scott (Sawsan) of Vancouver, B.C. Proud great grandmother of Adrianna, Alecia and Isabelle of Lower Sackville. Sister of Orley (Linda) Dunstan of Creemore and Lorna Hutchinson (deceased). Velma served Creemore and district first as a telephone Operator, then as Chief Operator, for the Creemore switch board of Bell Canada. In those days, all telephone communication was handled manually by operators at the local office. At times of crisis, such as disasters like Hurricane Hazel – or fires and floods etc, – Velma would be called in to assist the operators on duty as the then heavy phone traffic had to be prioritized for emergency services. In the mid 1960s, phone service went dial and the local office closed. In later years, Velma and Wes moved to Calgary to be with family. Together they spent 30 years in western Canada with family and friends. Always enjoying road trips, they travelled extensively throughout different parts of Alberta and British Columbia. Velma enjoyed spoiling their grandsons with special meals and crafts. Always willing to give a helping hand, one of Velma’s favourite activities for 10 years was being a “White Hat Hostess” at the Calgary International Airport – offering a warm greeting for people arriving from all over the world, and giving them their first experience of “Western Hospitality.” A service of remembrance will be held in the spring at which time the family will be laying Velma to rest with Wes at the Creemore Union Cemetery. Donations in Velma’s memory may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Friends may visit Velma’s online Book of Memories at www.fawcettfuneralhomes.com