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Mavis Anne Johnston nee: Durand, of Hanna
On May 9, 1933 Mavis was born at Bassano, Alberta. She was the first of five children born to Agatha and Leonard Durand. Shortly after her birth she and her mother joined her father at the farm at Islay, Alberta, near Vermillion. When it was time to begin her education, she rode horseback to the one room school several miles away until the family left Islay and moved to Ontario. They moved back to Alberta the next year because Agatha’s health had deteriorated to the point where she could no longer look after the family and had to be hospitalized. Being the oldest in the family, this meant a lot of extra responsibility fell on Mavis’s small shoulders. After returning to Alberta and attending school for brief periods in Lomond, Nanton and Vulcan, Mavis was enrolled for nearly 5 years at the Father Lacombe School at Midnapore which is now part of Calgary. She always loved music and there she had the opportunity to learn to play the piano.
In the summer of 1948, her father moved the family to a farm he had bought just south of Kirkpatrick Lake. Mavis attended school in Hanna for Grade 9, 10, 11 and 12 going home to the farm only on some weekends and the holidays. Mavis loved books and seemed to learn easily from them. This was fortunate as money was scarce and she worked for her room and board while attending High School so she didn’t have much time for homework.
After High School, Mavis went back to the farm for three years to be what everyone called, ‘chief cook and bottle washer’. She was still a teenager but she was baking bread, cooking for the family as well as threshing crews, doing the laundry, gardening, canning and even taking over the milking and other farm chores when the men in the family were away. Somehow she still found time to make clothes for herself and her three sisters.
She was paid for her work on her dad’s farm and was proud of the small herd of 13 cattle that she had, to take with her when she got married. On November 23, 1955 she and Rayford Johnston were married. After her marriage Mavis lived in the Garden Plains district. They had a busy life on the farm, working and socializing with friends, relatives and neighbors. The highlight of those years was certainly the addition of two children to the family. She along with Rayford, raised their daughter, Shelley and their son, Leland. Next came the marriage of Leland to Shawna Irwin and Shelley to Bryan Lee and the births of four wonderful grandchildren. She took great joy in their grandsons, Dylan and Tyler (Leland and Shawna) and Brandon and Christopher (Shelley and Bryan). Seeing them always brightened her day.
Mavis preferred to express her love by doing things for those she loved rather than talking about it. For many years, Mavis was the Netherby news correspondent for the Hanna Herald. She was part of the Dundee WI, Garden Plains Community Club and Sunshine Friend.
She enjoyed many aspects of farm life. She loved the golden vistas at sunset, the prairie plants and birds, the animals, and the big sky. She loved reading and read many books on a variety of subjects.
She held various jobs off the farm; probably her favorite job was working at the Hanna Museum. Her keen interest in the history of the settling of the prairies served her well in this job.
Her working days came to an end too soon. Although she didn’t talk about it much, she had lived with several health problems for many, many years. She always believed that laughter is the best medicine and could see the humor in just about any situation.
Mavis Anne Johnston died on October 19th at the Hanna Hospital. She will be sadly missed by her husband Rayford, daughter Shelley (Bryan), son Lee (Shawna) and her forever treasured grandsons Dylan, Tyler, Brandon and Christopher.
She will also be fondly remembered and greatly missed by her brother, Adrian (Shirley) Durand, her three sisters, Cathie (Bill) Dacyshyn, Laurie (Gerry) Luciani, Rose (Pat) Matsuoka, her brother-in-law, Fred Johnston and her sister-in-law, Eileen Heggen as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Leonard and Agatha Durand, her parents-in-law, Fred and Blanche Johnston and her brother-in-law’s Clifford Corry and Clarence Heggen.
There will be a memorial service on Saturday, October 30, 2004 at 2:00 pm at the First United Church in Hanna. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mavis’s memory to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
STEWART, Annie
On Thursday, September 15, 2011, Annie Stewart (Doolaege) passed away at home at the age of 56 years.
Annie is survived by her husband of 31 years, Doug Stewart of Lac La Biche, her children Phillip Stewart (Trish), Sarah Stewart, Jessica Stewart, Melanie Stewart, granddaughter Marley, parents Camiel and Margaret Doolaege, siblings Maria (Ken), Willy (Anastasia), Lucie (Alvin), Francis (Sharianne), Robert (Annelise), Paul (Paula), Gerald (Susan), Leanna (Grant), numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She is predeceased by her brother Anthony Doolaege.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, September 24, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. at the Evangelical Free Church, Lac La Biche, AB with Pastor Charles Fish officiating.
Mission View Funeral Chapel Ltd. Funeral Directors Derrick and Nola Kruk are in care of funeral arrangements.
Kitch, Betty
In Loving Memory of Betty Kitch 1923 - 2006
Loving daughter of Jesus Christ and, Austin and Gertrude Scoffield, loving sister of Jack, Fern, Kathleen, Barbara, Gladys, Dorothy, and Marjorie and the body of Christ at Hillside Baptist Church. Loving wife of John Edward, loving mother of Brian Edward, Carol Anne and William Austin, loving mother-in-law of Teresa Ellen (Terry / TP), loving friend of many. Praise the Lord that Betty Kitch had the assurance of eternal life in heaven, through the simple choice of accepting the free gift of salvation offered through the supreme sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Great peace and comfort were her rewards in the final weeks, days and hours of her life. Betty indicated she had a good life and no regrets before she passed. Betty's family would like to thank the nurses and caregivers at Cedarview Lodge and Kiwanis Care Centre for their care, love and kindness over the many years she resided with you. We would also like to thank all those that supported us all through prayers, kind words of encouragement and friendship.This is not the end but a new beginning. Praise God! A Celebration of Betty's life will be held on Saturday April 15th, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. at Hillside Baptist Church 870 Lynn Valley Road in North Vancouver. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Cancer Society.
FALARDEAU, Daryl Louis
On September 14th, 2014 Daryl Louis Falardeau of Edson, Alberta passed away at the age of 56 years.
Left to mourn his loss, his former wife Debbie and his children Charles and Chassie, and grandchildren Noah, Emma and Gwendolyn.
Also surviving is his mother Hazel Falardeau of Edson, Alberta, siblings Wayne (Naomi) Falardeau of Edson, Alberta and their children Lana and Pamela, Katherine (John) Alto of Hague, Saskatchewan and their children Bill, Annette and Wayne, brother in law Adelino Pinto and his family, Roxanne, Shauna and Lisa.
There are numerous other relatives and a host of friends left to mourn.
Daryl was predeceased by his father Joseph on July 2nd, 1996, his sister Margaret Pinto and grandson Nicolas Falardeau.
Following cremation, a private memorial service was held on September 17th, 2014. Interment of cremated remains will follow in Glenwood Cemetery.
Please consult Daryl’s family regarding where donations are to be directed.
AIRE, Vivian Margaret
On April 8, 2006 Mrs. Vivian Margaret Aire of Edmonton passed away at the age of 79 years. Funeral arrangements will be announced in the Tuesday and Wednesday, April 18 and 19, issues of this paper. Appel Funeral Home/Central Memorial Chapel.
