Genealogist.
Born at the St. Boniface Hospital on 28 August 1935, the first of four children of Robert Gordon “Bob” Rooke (1909-1956) and Georgina Noreen “Nonie” Robinson (1909-2014), most of her life was spent in Fort Garry. In 1952, she graduated from Viscount Alexander High School then attended the University of Manitoba, receiving BA and Bachelor of Social Work degrees. She worked as a social worker.
On 17 September 1960, she married Bob Stokes and they had three sons, moving to Fort Richmond in 1967 to accommodate the growing family. She spent thirty plus years coaching, teaching, and judging synchronized swimming as well as serving as an executive and board member for Synchro Manitoba and Synchro Canada.
An active member of the Manitoba Genealogical Society since 1976, she served as its President (1987-1989, 2010-2013) and Chair of its Special Projects Committee since 1980. Her work transcribing the information on thousands of gravestones across Manitoba was the basis for its online database. She worked privately as a genealogist for years out of her home. She was also a member of the Manitoba Historical Society, Fort Garry Historical Society, and Manitoba Heritage Federation. In 2017, her community service was recognized with a Lieutenant Governor's Award for Historical Preservation and Promotion.
She died at Winnipeg on 15 January 2026.
Marriage registration [Robert Gordon Rooke, Georgina Noreen Robinson], Manitoba Vital Statistics.
Obituary [G. Noreen Rooke], Winnipeg Free Press, 26 April 2014.
Obituary, Seasons Funeral Service.
Obituaries and burial transcriptions, Manitoba Genealogical Society.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 2 May 2026
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