Caroline Betty (Love) Bruce

Caroline Betty Bruce (nee Love) of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, passed away in her sleep Monday, February 7th after a lengthy battle with Parkinsons. She was aged 75.

Caroline was born to parents John (Jack) Love and Margaret (Peggy) Love on May 14th, 1946 in Portage la Prairie.  In 1967 she married Richard Melville Bruce and settled down to become an elementary school teacher in the Portage area, where she had her three children. Caroline was dedicated to her craft, and continued as a substitute teacher even after she retired - at least, when she could spare time from her garden: she kept a large garden plot on the family farm and could be found most afternoons and evenings through the summer weeding her peas and cauliflower plants.  In later years, after her husband had a stroke, she took on the mantle of caregiver as well, and provided support and care for him until he passed in 2011.

Life wasn't all hard work, however. Caroline loved dancing; it was at a West End Hall dance night that she met her husband-to-be, Melville. She enjoyed travel and loved the yearly family trip to British Columbia. She liked her old time and gospel music, and in later years she and her husband would attend Midnight Mass at the local church, just to hear the singing - and sometimes join in. She would sometimes dust off her piano at home in the afternoons for an hour or so to play and sing along.

Caroline is survived by her three sons, David, Dale, and Douglas (Selena), as well as her sisters Bonnie Inkster, Candace Love (Larry), her brother David, sister-in-law Gladys Wishart and many nieces and nephews as well as grand-nieces and grand nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, Richard Melville Bruce; her parents John and Peggy, her brothers-in-law Russel and Reginald Bruce, Dale Inkster, Jim Caskie, Frank Bohn, Les Cooper; her sisters-in-law Elizabeth Caskie, Grace Bohn, and Hazel Cooper, and her nephew Ron Bohn.

A viewing for family and friends will be held on Saturday, February 12th from 1 PM to 3 PM at Ronald Moffit Memorial Services, 306 Saskatchewan Ave. East, Portage la Prairie. A service will be held later in the year when COVID protocols allow. The family welcomes well-wishers and is grateful for condolences. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Parkinsons Canada, 316 - 4211, Yonge St., Toronto, ON, M2P 2A9. 

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