Emily Frances Jean Sweet-Winger

Emily Frances Jean Sweet-Winger

Emily Frances Jean Sweet-Winger   
June 20, 1990 – April 30, 2026


And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;
and there shall be no more death,
neither sorrow, nor crying,
neither shall there be any more pain:
for the former things are passed away.
— Revelation 21:4


Emily was the devoted mother of her eldest son, Bryson, and her infant son, Braydon. She carried her love for her children deep within her heart—everywhere and always. She is survived by her beloved sons and their father, Blake Banfield (Branson).

The memory of Emily remains dear and abiding to her father, Gregory Winger; her mother, Colleen Sweet; her younger sister, Olivia Sweet-Winger; her grandmother, Katherine Winger (née Feltz); and her many friends and relatives across Canada.

Emily graduated from high school in Vernon, BC, and continued working afterward, carrying forward the determination she had shown throughout her school years. She was beginning to build a life for herself before a car accident changed the course of her life and she moved out east. Emily, her mom, and her little sister missed and loved one another across the distance.

Those who knew Em remember the warmth and brightness of spending time with her. She had a gift for friendship and laughter, and for making ordinary times feel memorable. The friends she made during her school years and beyond remained close to her heart throughout her life.

Music, movies, The Simpsons, and sewing brought happiness and comfort into many of her days. She sewed both by hand and with her sewing machine, whose familiar sound carried through so many moments of her life. Among the things she made and treasured was a blanket she prized and held close over the years. She also liked writing and journaling, filling pages with her thoughts, ideas, and feelings. Emily had a sharp sense of humor and perfect comedic timing, and could make people laugh unexpectedly, often when they needed it most.

A generosity of spirit and presence remained in her, along with her faith in God and His angels, and her hope for peace and contentment for the people she loved and cared about.

Curious about the world around her, Emily found happiness and connection in gardening and the comforts of home. Animals, especially cats and dogs, held a special place in her heart. So did walking through Polson Park, butterfly kisses, red cardinals, summer fireflies, and the lake breeze drifting in from the shores of Lake Erie. Color moved her, both in nature and in the art people made. The sound of a handmade gourd instrument she brought home from Point Pelee National Park fascinated her; it reminded her of ice cracking in the winter. Visiting Point Pelee with her family was very special to her.

Within Emily were strength and tenderness, longing and humor, and a vulnerability inseparable from her humanity. She is our color just beyond the fireflies of summer nights, and our sounds along a water’s winter edge.

Emily is always with us... and she is always with you.