Gertrude (Gertie) Simpson-Parkes passed away peacefully at the Dryden Regional Health Centre in the early evening of September 19, 2011 at the age of 92 with her family by her side.

Gertie was born in Shoal Lake, Manitoba, the firstborn child of Roy and Claire Lillie. At a very young age Gertie moved with her family to the Dryden area, settling on a homestead at Rice Lake.

Gertie lived a very rewarding life and had a very diverse successful career. As a young girl she worked in the bag factory at the mill until she was married to Jack Bartlett in 1941. In the late 1940s as a single mom, she started Lakeland Laundry which she operated for four years. After this she worked for Proudfoot’s Department Store for a few years. Gertie started work as the manager at Simpson Sears in 1956 where she remained until her retirement in 1984.

Gertie was always active in the community and always had a compassion for the less fortunate. She was very active in the Business and Professional Women’s Club and served one term as its President. Gertie was an active member of the Barclay Womens’ Institute for many years. During retirement Gertie and Albert delivered Meals on Wheels, worked at the Hospital Tuck Shop and volunteered wherever they were needed. Vacations were a special time for Gertie and Albert and they truly enjoyed many memorable trips together.

Gertie is survived by her husband Albert Parkes, her son Dale Bartlett (Kathy) and her brother Roger Lillie (Cecile).

Family times were the most special and rewarding times for Gertie. She shared her skills in cooking with her daughter, daughter-in-law and granddaughters and family times always centered around food. Her grandchildren were the focus of her life and she is survived by Michael Kirwan (Carol), Rosemary Valdock (Thane), Nancy Langlais (Bruno Ricci), Sandra Benvenuto (Enzo), Danny Kirwan (Angela), Libby Harrington (Dave Hermanson), Roger Bartlett (Kathy), Andrew Bartlett, Brian Bartlett and Shannon Dyck (Perry). Gertie was the proud great grandmother of 21 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren. Gertie leaves a very large extended family of in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins to mourn her loss.

Gertie was predeceased by her daughter Dianne Kirwan/Landry, sons-in- law Robert Kirwan and Bert Landry, husbands Jack Bartlett and Sidney Simpson, brothers Gordon and Raymond Lillie, sister -in-law Eileen Lillie and great-grandson Cody Wendland.

The funeral service was held Saturday, September 24, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. in Emmanuel Baptist Church with Pastor Jake Letkeman officiating. Interment was in the family plot in the Dryden Cemetery beside members of her family.

If friends desire, donations may be made to the DRHC Equipment Fund through the Stevens Funeral Homes, P.O. Box 412, Dryden, ON P8N 221. Condolences may be emailed to sympathycard@shaw.ca subject: Simpson-Parkes