On November 28, 2018, our daughter, sister and friend passed away peacefully, surrounded by family. Born to Hugh and Carmen (Johnson) McKay in Selkirk, Manitoba, she will be greatly missed by husband Glen Einarson and cat-daughter Thakka; mother Carmen McKay; sisters Darla and Sandra; brother Donald; in-laws, aunts, uncle, cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and -nephews, great great niece, and many friends.
Tricia grew up in Selkirk where she attended school. She had a wealth of talents, and a charismatic manner. She was a Sea Cadet, an officer of the Canadian Armed Forces CIC, and a 25‑year member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 42. For many years she passionately enjoyed teaching sailing for the Manitoba Sail Centre. She loved the outdoors, camping, biking, sailing, inflatable dinghy-ing, and swimming. She enjoyed maintaining her vegetable gardens and shrubberies. She adored cooking and was known to be epi-curious; leaving behind quarts of such lacto-fermented classics as “salty-sour maraschino cherries,” “spicy cauliflower, carrot, & onion medley,” and “garlic-ginger carrots.” She believed with every ounce of her being that she could both dance and sing, and could almost get you to believe it too.
Her appreciation of her Icelandic heritage and genealogy was encouraged by her family, especially her Amma, and led to a lifetime love of Iceland, its literature and culture. As a youth, she attended Icelandic Language and Cultural camp in Gimli, Manitoba. She travelled to Iceland with the Snorri program, meeting her extended Icelandic family and working in a remote area of the westfjords.
Her vibrancy came through strongly in her presentations and writings about her phenomenal experiences in Iceland. She encouraged others to travel and participate in the Snorri program, and was elected the first President of its Alumni Association.
Tricia further indulged her love of Iceland in attending university there. She was a 30-year member of the Icelandic National League, first with the Selkirk Brúin Chapter, later with the Gimli Icelandic Canadian Society and serving one term on the INL of NA as a director at large.
Her quick wit and excellent memory were also well-known, as anyone who has attempted a trivia match with her can attest. When travelling and exploring with Glen, she would connect the current beauty of a region with its history and family lore. She would then enthusiastically share interesting facts that she had uncovered along with illustrative photos.
Tricia was creative and skilled in her art and craftwork, and has left handmade treasured keepsakes with her loved ones.