Rose Margaret (Hooge) Brandt

Roswita Margaret Hooge was born in Chilliwack, B.C. on October 13, 1939. She was the youngest child of Henry P. Hooge and Agatha (Friesen) Hooge. She spent her early years on a farm in Greendale and the family eventually moved to Clearbook where she went to the Mennonite Educational Institute from 1954 to 1959. Here she developed an early love for music and singing as she was involved in a variety of musical groups and choirs, and playing piano and organ in high school, which she continued throughout her life. She also met her future husband Bernie Brandt here, and they were married on August 29, 1960 - one year after she graduated from Grade 13.

Bernie and Rose started their married life on an adventurous note which carried them throughout their entire relationship as they moved to Ocean Falls, then Golden, back to Ocean Falls, onto the Queen Charlotte Islands (now Haida Gwaii), and finally settling in Fort St. John, where she substitute taught and worked in a bookstore. Once their own children were grown and out of the house, they picked up and moved to Akron, PA where they volunteered with Mennonite Central Committee for 6 years. At the end of their term, Bernie was diagnosed with cancer, and they moved to Winnipeg, MB where Bernie spent his last months. As Rose adjusted to the loss of her soul mate, she continued to live in Winnipeg until 2003 at which point she returned to her childhood city of Chilliwack and lived with her older sister, Mary.

Throughout her life, Rose loved travelling and continued her global adventures with her sisters as they visited multiple countries on several continents. Whether it was three sisters or four traveling together, there was always laughter and their collective force attracted lots of positive attention. Many cathedrals were graced with their spontaneous harmonies as they couldn’t resist singing together.

When not on the go, Rose was legendary for her hospitality as she welcomed guests from far and wide for a meal or a night. There was always room at the table for one more and an extra bed when someone needed a place to stay. She especially loved baking and sharing her delicious sweets and pies with others, and she always had a freezer full of goodies. Her infectious smile made everyone feel welcome and she loved making new friends. She cultivated some very special relationships throughout her life and had many “grandchildren” who called her “Oma”.

She also spent time knitting (afghans for her grandchildren or sock monkeys for nieces, nephews, grandchildren and others), playing online scrabble with friends and family, completing daily crossword puzzles with her sister, Mary, and organizing/digitizing her many photos. She especially cherished a close relationship with each of her grandchildren and loved playing games, swimming, baking, knitting, riding rollercoasters, and texting and FaceTiming with them. And she never let any of us forget the first day of Spring, singing “March the 21st is Here” to rouse us from our beds in the morning, and then in later years, over the phone, voicemail, or via text.

In late March 2021, Rose was diagnosed with advanced cancer. During the last weeks before her death on May 17th, she took the opportunity to reconnect with family and friends, continuing to make us laugh and maintaining a positive attitude throughout.

Rose was predeceased by her husband, Bernie Brandt and her two older brothers, Harold Hooge and John Hooge. She is survived by her dear sisters: Mary Neumann, Lillian Klassen, Elfrieda Friesen (and her husband, Abe) and her loving brother Mike Hooge (and his wife Hilde); her daughters Debbie Neufeld and Alissa Brandt; sons-in-law Philip Neufeld and Evasio Murenzi; and her five grandchildren: Kaleb (her favourite...grandson), Malaïka (her angel), Madelyn (her princess), Sophie (her sunshine), and Chloe (her liebchen).