Obituary of Gwendolyn June Wellington

Gwendolyn June Wellington, age 72, died on Feb. 10, 2022, after a valiant 3-year battle with cancer. She was born in Pincher Creek, Alberta, on July 18th, 1949. Gwen’s flair for music led her from her small farm community to Canadian Mennonite Bible College in Winnipeg, where she earned a Bachelor in Sacred Music. Gwen was a talented piano player and often accompanied voice students while at school. One of these students, Kenneth Schlichting Wellington, took special “note” of this remarkable young woman. They married in 1970 and continued making music together over the course of their 52-year marriage.

Gwen continued to share her gift of music by working as a professional accompanist and piano teacher for 17 years. Her expressive piano playing touched many lives, especially in all the churches she attended, most recently the Christ Church Anglican in Cranbrook. She enjoyed her music teaching career until her keen interest in people motivated her to earn a Master’s degree in Social Work. She established a 25-year career in private counseling, helping hundreds of people, many of whom were severely traumatized, find emotional healing.

After retiring from counseling, Gwen took up writing and during her struggle with cancer she completed and published a devotional book, “Glimpses of God’s Heart”. This book, coming out of her deep and intimate relationship with God, has been a source of inspiration and comfort to many. It furthered her life’s goal, which was to “enhance the quality of other people’s lives.” During her last year she wrote and just about completed her second book which is about her struggle with cancer. Also, over the course of serving the church, she was a lay minister, taught Sunday School, led marriage enrichment courses, and established a Christian resource center for the Mennonite Church of Canada which is now operating as CommonWord Book Store and Resource Centre.

Gwen was a lover of all things beautiful, and she enjoyed keeping her hands busy making all kinds of exquisite creations – everything from crocheted tablecloths to stained-glass lamps. She also exceled at making culinary delights for her family and friends and tended a stunning orchid collection.

Gwen’s greatest joy was her two children and five grandchildren. She expressed her love through making favourite dishes, giving special gifts, and finding fun crafts and activities to do with the grandkids - anything that brought delight to her treasured loved ones.

She is survived by her devoted husband Ken, son Mark and daughter-in-law Erika, daughter Christina and son-in-law Byron, grandchildren Katelyn, Averie, Blake, Sienna, Devon (wife Kelsey) and great-granddaughter Kali, sister Olinda Baergen and her family, brother Ray Poettcker and sister-in-law Grace and their family.

A Service will be held on Saturday, February 26, 2022; 3:00 pm at the Dwelling Place in Cranbrook, B.C. To take part in the live streaming of the service, please click on the LIVE STREAMING of SERVICE tab to the left of the obituary. 

In lieu of flowers please donate to https://cranbrookrotary.org/. Sunrise Rotary Club of Cranbrook.

Arrangements entrusted to McPherson Funeral Services.

Condolences for the family can be offered at:

www.mcphersonfh.com