On July 21st, 2022, Heather Leigh Bertram passed away peacefully at the Swan River Valley Personal Care Home. Born November 4th, 1952, in Swan River, Heather was just 69 years and 8 months old. Heather was the fourth of seven children born to Glenn and Ruth Bertram of Minitonas. Being a very active, inquisitive, and outgoing child Heather loved to walk, explore, go for rides, and play with animals, especially cats. As Heather grew, she never lost that innocent and carefree approach to life, and as an adult, became a permanent resident of Swan River where she continued her favourite pass time exploring and meeting people. Heather had an enviable ability to engage anyone in conversation. It did not matter to her who you were or what you looked like, she saw everyone as equal and greeted all with a smile. So full of love was our Heather, she became a true child of the community of Swan River where so many people looked out for her. Heather was also a long-time working client (Since 1969, One of her jobs she delivered newspapers for 20years) of the Association For Community Living where she made many lifelong friends. In fact, it was because of Heather that her parents, Glenn and Ruth, became founding members of ACL. Heather never seemed to complain or get upset (too often) she simply got up each and every day and put on a smile and set off to make new friends.

 

Heather is predeceased by her father and mother, Glenn and Ruth; her brother, Robert George; her sister, Sherry Lynne (Kelbert); her sister-in-law Johnna Leah (Blair).

 

Heather will be remembered by her sister, Glenys (Lawrence Eisner) of Minitonas, MB; brother Donald (Debbie) of Halifax, NS; brother Dale of Kenora, ON; brother David (Valerie) of Minitonas, MB; and fourteen nieces and nephews as well as her ACL family and hundreds of people whose lives she enriched.

 

No one will ever know how many miles Heather walked or how many people she encountered on those walks. It is safe to believe that she has a brand-new pair of shoes and a cat waiting just for her when she joins her family in heaven!

 

 

 

      “We all need love. We all need community. No matter who you are, where you’re from, those things don’t change. We’re more similar than we are different.”  —— Jessica Nabongo