Blythe Hirst

November 18, 1941 ~ October 31, 2023

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing at Pinawa Hospital of our dear Mom, Nanny and Amma after a brief battle with cancer. 

Left to cherish Mom’s memory are her son Grant (Kathy), daughter Shannon (Randy), daughter-in-law Georgia (Marina, Logan and Kelsey), grandchildren Anthony (Allison), Alia (Bryce), Austin (Naomi), Nick (Kenzie) and Dane, great-grandchildren Grace, Henry, Bowen and Isla. She also leaves her brother Bruce Malyk (Debbie), special “sisters” Marlene Rollins and Beatrice Holm (Allan), and “daughter” Pat McKetchen (Bill), sisters-in-law Laurel Torgerson, Hazel Pohl and JoAnne Hirst, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Mom will also be dearly missed by close friend Ruth Monych. She was also very fond of her granddogs.

Blythe was born in Winnipeg on November 18, 1941 to Nick and Nora Rudy. She was raised in Lac du Bonnet, where she made many lifelong friends who knew her as Chickie. She worked in Winnipeg for a short time prior to marrying her high school sweetheart, Glen Hirst, on April 15, 1961.  Together they raised three children and she was proud to be the first lady of Lac du Bonnet for 19 years, during the time that Glen was Mayor.  Blythe worked at the local Canada Post Office for 29 years, while raising her family.  She was thrilled to become a Nanny in 1988 when Anthony was born.  She continued to welcome four more grandchildren and was very dedicated to them; teaching them to play crib with her and Papa, sitting on the dock watching them swim for hours, having late-night sleepovers and attending their activities. The only thing better to her than becoming a Nanny was when she became an Amma to her four precious great-grandchildren.  She took so much pride in her family and loved spending time with the kids.  Blythe enjoyed good conversations, reading, doing crosswords, watching true crime shows and she loved her club soda.  

Welcoming Mom home are her husband Glen (2009), son Calvin (2021), her parents, stepfather Edward Malyk, in-laws Gordon Hirst, Ralph and Loreley Bogle, Allan and Mayme Hirst, Myrtle and Victor Helgason, Rosalie and Stan Szmerski, Ronald Hirst, Arnold and Joan Hirst, Bob Pohl, Durwood Rollins and Jerry Torgerson.

We are very thankful to Dr. Alexander, Dr. Dinakis, Dr. Ravi, Dr. Atoyebi, the nurses and staff at Pinawa, Pine Falls and Selkirk hospitals for their care, kindness and compassion throughout. A special thanks to Dr Papetti for her personal care, including home visits, during Mom’s time of need.

Memorial service to be held at the Lac du Bonnet Community Centre, Lac du Bonnet, MB, on Friday, November 10 at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Blythe’s memory to the Lac du Bonnet Arena or a charity of your choice.

“You do the best you can, even when you think you can’t, and that dear Mom is not failing.  You were amazing.”    

“Nanny, it is our turn to shine your light on the rest of the world, so you may rest in peace.”

www.soberingfuneralchapel.com

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