Obituary of Vera (Vicki) Joan Manners (McWilliam)

It is with heartfelt sadness that we announce the passing of Vera (Vicki) Manners at Barrhaven Manor in Ottawa.

Vicki was the devoted wife of Jack for 76 years and loving mother of Joan (Doug Stafford), Sandra (Robert Palmese), and Steven.

Nanny / Great-Nanny will be lovingly remembered by her three grandchildren, Catherine Stafford (Eric Plamondon), James Stafford (Tracy Morgan), and Laura Stafford, and six great-grandchildren, Bryen Hobbs, Shanna Hobbs, Jackson Stafford, Ryder Stafford, Logan Stokes, and Scarlett Stokes.

Born in Canterbury, Kent, England, Vicki met Jack playing cards at a service club while serving as an ambulance driver in the British Army during World War II. They married in February 1946, and, in August, she packed up her courage, waved goodbye to family and friends, and boarded the Queen Mary as a war bride to start a new life in Canada.

Vicki was a caring mother, a classy lady, and a wonderful role model. Smart, fun-loving, endlessly curious, she was always willing to try new things. Hobbies through the years included knitting, sewing, painting, ceramics, tap dancing and amateur dramatics. She mastered computers in her golden years. excelled at darts and played a mean game of Rummikub.  

Vicki and Jack enjoyed travelling and spent many happy, active years in the Morningside retirement community in New Hamburg, Ontario, their seasonal home in Nokomis, Florida, and leisure properties in Magog, Quebec, and Enosburg Falls, Vermont.

Vicki is now reunited with her much loved husband, Jack, who passed away in 2022 at 100 as well as her parents, May Emily Hadley and James Fairweather McWilliam, and her siblings Ronald McWilliam, Agnes Kate (Pat) Nash, Stanley McWilliam, and Joyce McWilliam.

A funeral for Vicki will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 19 at Cole Funeral Services, 2500 Baseline Road, Ottawa, Ontario. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favourite charity.