BEZAN, Gwendolyn “Wendy” Mary Born April 13, 1939 ~ November 28, 2025. Aged 86 years.
Our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Gwendolyn “Wendy” Bezan, left to be with God while surrounded by family on the evening of November 28, 2025, at the age of 86.
Wendy made her big entrance into the world on April 13, 1939, in Chesterfield Inlet, N.W.T., to her parents George and Irene Anderson. Her birth was the finale of a long journey for her mother, travelling from Tavane to Chesterfield Inlet by dogsled.
Wendy spent much of her childhood in Pangnirtung and Lake Harbour, N.W.T., where her father was stationed with the Hudson’s Bay Company. This was a memorable time in her life, and she always had many fascinating stories to share and Inuit artifacts to show off.
At the age of nine, she left to pursue a better education in Winnipeg and attended Isaac Brock School. In 1952, her father retired from the Hudson’s Bay Company and moved to Inglis, Man., after purchasing the general store on Main Street, so Wendy moved out to join her parents and her two siblings, Ginger and Margaret. She worked at her parents’ store and went to school in Inglis until Grade 11, when she decided to follow in her father’s footsteps and took a job with the Hudson’s Bay Company. She spent some time in Northern Ontario and would come back to Inglis on furlough.
It was during one of these trips back home when she met a dashing young farmer – her future husband, Jim Bezan. They married just a few months later in October of 1958. Their first child was born two years after that, with five more to come. They built their forever home in 1970 near Inglis and continued to raise their large family there. Wendy’s touch in their house was evident, with many of her décor choices becoming iconic within the family, especially the orange shag carpet. She loved living on the farm and spent her time tending to her two large gardens, feeding the men in the field and helping out when she was needed, which often meant chasing cows or running to town for parts.
After raising her family, Wendy worked at the Russell Hospital in the kitchen. Her passion for cooking and baking went beyond her work – she baked loaves of bread and buns every week, along with many desserts to feed her family’s sweet tooth. She also enjoyed other hobbies, such as ceramics, knitting and crocheting.
She retired from the Assiniboine Regional Health Authority in 2004 and dedicated the rest of her time to focusing on her grandchildren, whom she loved more than anything. Family meant everything to Wendy, and she spent much of her time travelling to see her children and grandchildren or hosting large family gatherings. The farm was a welcome place, not just to her children and grandchildren, but also to her extended family and friends, including cousins, nieces and nephews who were dear to her, as well.
Wendy was a strong woman of God. Her faith was at the centre of her life. For those close to Wendy, this faith in God will influence their lives forever.
Wendy is predeceased by her parents, George and Ida Irene Anderson (nee Timlick), her brother George “Ginger” Anderson, her husband, Jim and her son, Dana. She is survived by her sister, Margaret (Ray) Taplin, her children, Layton (Barb), Clinton (Samantha), Heather (Chris), James (Kelly), Warren (Dawn), Jason (Kristen), her 19 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
We are grateful to have had so much time with our mother and grandma, sister and mother-in-law, aunt and friend, and will miss her dearly. To know her and her unconditional love was the greatest blessing. Thank you for everything, we love you more than love!
