Vivian Shannon

Vivian Shannon, circa 1960

Vivian Shannon with her husband Don, circa 2016

Vivian Mary Shannon (nee Buxton), born (1929-10-08) 8 October 1929, is a Winnipeg woman.

Early life

Vivian was born to Ronald Buxton and Edna Buxton on 8 October 1929 in Winnipeg. Edna's mother - Vivian's grandmother - was Rose Cooke, who is also the mother of Lucy Currie. Thus Vivian is the niece of Lucy Currie.

Marriage and family

She married Don Shannon (circa March 1929 - May 2019) and had three children:

• Deborah May Shannon (born 3 March 1953), no issue.
• Nadine (born 11 June 1956), married Arthur Kampen, 3 children;
  • Evelyn (deceased)
  • Alexander Kampen
  • Keith Kampen
• Ronald Michael Shannon (born 16 September 1954), married Elaine Chambers, one son:
  • Tyler Shannon, born 1986.

Early memories

Well, Michael, I was a child of the “Great Depression” in a day when people (my parents) kept troubles to themselves. I was I think 5, when my father who worked for the CN railway in Transcona,( as did Uncle Ernie,) lost his job. Somehow, through some program, my parents instead of going “on relief”, “the dole”, which they would have hated, ended up on an acreage in Vivian, Manitoba. My Dad had terrible asthma, which led to his death at 52. He was allergic to animals, dust, etc., etc., My Mom, your Grandmother’s sister had never been with animals. Well, it was a lovely time in my life.

The family all got together – Grandpa (John) Cooke was a journeyman carpenter, and a small house was build, barn, etc., etc., I remember sitting on the fence with Aunt Lucy, Your Grandma, Mom’s favorite sister, yodelling. Haha. Aunt Rosalind, who was not quite 3 years older than me, was more like a sister, and we got into all kinds of mischief, on visits to the farm. I went to a one room school house.

Betty was born in 1936 – 2 years before we left the farm..

After 7 years on the farm, Dad was rehired by the CN, the farm was sold and we moved back to “town”. Culture shock set in, with the transition from one room school room, to the big school By high school though, I was having fun – played in a band, got chicken pox and fell in love with DONALD Shannon.

I didn’t go University, (No money), took the usual secretary course learned Pitman Shorthand, and went to work. After marriage and staying home with 3 children until school age, I was one of the first women of my age group, who had “lunch box” children when I went to work.

My best job was when the Winnipeg Convention Centre was being built I worked for the Construction Manager and then the Centre Board of Directors. I was offered a chance work on my own as a Financial Planner with Eaton/Bay Financial, so I took courses and joined them. Donald was starting his own business, and I wanted more money, so I accepted a position as Volunteer Service.s Co-ordinator at the Health Sciences Centre Hospital, for secure income. I was dead-ended as Volunteer Co-ordinator, so took a Hospital Management course was hired as a Supervisor in Admitting. I had never really liked hospital work, so I retired at Age 60, and then enjoyed my best job. Teaching violin, and playing fiddle. :)

Sources

Facebook