Richard & June Grayson in Memory of Rose Grayson Fund

Richard and June Grayson created this fund in memory of Richard’s mother, Rose Grayson.

This is an unrestricted fund, which means that the Board of the ICF will decide how the annual disbursement from the fund will be allocated in our Community Granting Program.

Richard Sr, June, Richard Jr and Rose Grayson
March 9, 1963

“Rose Grayson, maiden name Rose Wright, was a loving wife, sister, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

She was the youngest of 5 girls and born in Lancaster, England.

She was married to Richard J. Grayson Sr. at the age of 17. He told her he was only 10 years older than her but he was 33 when they married. In all fairness, Richard was born in Saskatchewan. If you are a CFL fan you will understand!

Rose came to Canada with her two oldest, Richard Jr. and Robert during the war obtaining landed immigrant status December 14, 1944. At the time Richard Jr. was about two and one half years old and Robert was just over a year. I can’t imagine crossing the Atlantic in a ship by yourself with two very young children. These days we get nervous taking our young ones to Walmart!

Rose, Richard Jr and Richard Sr Grayson

Robert and Richard Jr

Rose lived with her mother-in-law just southeast of Stonewall, close to the Rockwood cemetery until her husband returned from war. She raised her family while Richard Sr. sought various types of work, even spending one winter as a live in caretaker for an elderly farm family who provided living quarters for the family that winter. They lived in a house on the east side of 236 just south of Balmoral before they eventually settled in Stonewall to the end of their days.

Shortly after giving birth to her third child, Janice, Rose lost her sight to retinal detachments. They did not have the technology to fix her eyes back then, even going back to England hoping for some new miracle there. Fortunately she regained most of her sight in 1969, just in time to witness the wedding of her only daughter, Janice.

Richard Grayson Sr.

Richard Sr. passed when Rose was only 54. She continued to live in the same house in Stonewall on her own and eventually lost her sight again in her late 70’s. Given her history, you can understand she was a very determined lady. She refused to enter a care home, refusing to leave her beloved dog, and continued to live on her own until she passed, in her home.

Beach Day at St Ambroise BR: Richard Sr, Mrs. Piper, Rose, Mr. Piper FR: Lisa, June, and Rick Grayson

Richard Jr. wanted this fund to be a tribute to his mother and the hardships she endured to provide a safe loving environment for himself and his sister and brother. She never complained, offered support to whoever she could, often visiting the hospital and Rosewood to chat with anyone who needed some company. Times were far different back then. They survived many hardships only they can understand. Rose kept on going, kept walking her dog until her loss of sight made it too dangerous and stayed in her home in Stonewall.

A mother’s love is an unbreakable bond, rarely forgotten.”

The tribute to Rose was written by her granddaughter, Lisa Grayson.

To donate to this Fund, or any of our endowment funds,

• To donate to the Interlake Community Foundation securely with a credit card on-line, please click here: https://www.mycharitytools.com/gift/wpgfdn/donate?fund=254 All credit card donations are processed and receipted for us by the Winnipeg Foundation.
• Download our donation form if you wish to mail in a cheque General donation form ICF
• If you would like to send an e-transfer, please use info@interlakefoundation.ca and follow-up with an email to us with your name and mailing address so that we can send you a donation receipt.
• An Annual or Monthly recurring gift. You make an initial contribution and a commitment to add to the initial donation over a period of months or years. Click here to set up with a credit card and click “make a repeating gift” https://www.mycharitytools.com/gift/wpgfdn/donate?fund=254
• Publicly listed securities. This link will take you to the information needed at the Winnipeg Foundation, where most of our funds are invested. https://www.wpgfdn.org/giving/gifts-of-securities/Donating gifts of securities (including stocks, mutual funds and bonds) is a great way to support your community and reduce your tax bill. When you transfer securities to the ICF through the  Winnipeg Foundation, you receive a tax receipt and eliminate capital gains tax. The Winnipeg Foundation does not charge the ICF a fee to process these transaction. Please speak with your financial or tax advisor to see if this is the best option for you. Click here to download the Gift Transfer Form: WpgFdn_-_Securities_Transfer_Form-CIBC
• A bequest in a will;
• A gift of life insurance by naming the Interlake Community Foundation as a beneficiary;
• A gift in memory of a relative or friend. If you give us the name and address of the family, we will send them a card to let them know you have made a memorial donation.