JOHN MURRAY STANDING
November 21, 1931 - April 18, 2013
It is with sadness that we announce the
passing of John Murray Standing. He will
be deeply missed by Coralie, his wife of
almost 57 years; children Barbara Frame
(Craig) of Fredericton, and Kathy Strachan
(Keith); grandchildren Christopher Frame
(Amanda) of Halifax, Geoffrey Frame of
Calgary, Hannah Strachan (Lucas Kingyens),
Alexander Strachan, and
great-granddaughter Ava Kingyens. He will
also be missed by his brothers Ken and
Harold (Brenda), and his brother-in-law
Gary Cutler (Gerry). John is predeceased
by his parents Elsie and Graham Standing,
and sister Kathleen Taylor.
John began his teaching career at J.B.
Mitchell School and then on to Kelvin High
School where he taught Music, English and
French until his retirement in 1987. After
retirement he continued his keen interest
in the Winnipeg Music Festival, serving as
their Executive Director for two years.
From an early age John was a church
organist, meeting his future wife,
Coralie, at Chalmers United Church in
1952. He was organist and choir director
at Regents Park United Church, and choir
director at Westworth United Church and
St. Andrews River Heights United Church,
retiring in 1998. He directed many
community choirs throughout his life
including the Grad Choir, Manitoba Youth
Choir, National Youth Choir, Polish Sokol
Choir, Winnipeg Girls Choir, as well as
the chorus of the Manitoba Opera and
Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Winnipeg.
He was an active adjudicator and clinician
throughout Canada.
He felt strongly about the pursuit of
excellence and would not accept anything
less than the best. His mark on the life
of choral music in Winnipeg will not be
forgotten.
He loved his wife, children and
grandchildren deeply, and more recently
found great joy in his new
great-granddaughter. John loved to
entertain and valued meals with dear
friends, and family dinners with good
food, wine and laughter. Throughout the
years there was nothing he liked better
than to invite huge numbers of choir
members to parties and serving aptly named
punches to mark the occasion.
John's family would like to thank their
family and friends for their support
throughout his illness. There will be a
celebration of John's life on Thursday,
April 25, 2013 at St. Andrew's River
Heights United Church at Oak Street and
Kingsway at 7:00 p.m. In the half hour
prior to the service there will be
recorded music from many of the choirs
John has conducted over the years.
As
published in Winnipeg Free Press on
April 20, 2013
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