Rose Dean

Rose Dean passed away peacefully on Feb. 8, 2017, at Peace Arch Hospital, White Rock, surrounded by her family. Mom was born Sept. 4, 1922, at Goodeve, Sask., to Fred and Sophie Turchak. At the age of 4, mom’s mother passed away giving birth to mom’s youngest brother Pete. The siblings Ann, Nellie, Steve, Mike, John, baby Pete, and mom went to live with various relatives. Mom lived with her Aunt and Uncle Glowa. She became lifelong friends with her cousin Mary Woloshyn (nee Glowa). Later her dad remarried and added brother Bill to the family.

While living at Lake Valley with her Aunt and Uncle Dratwa, she met Ted Dean. They were married March 5, 1940, and in the beginning lived with her in laws, Tom and Ruth Dean, and brother-in-laws, Jim and Frank. Mom bonded with her mother in law and even in her last days was dispensing wisdom learned from Granny Dean. While at Lake Valley two children were born, Marlene and Donald.

When her father in law, Tom, passed away from WWI injuries, everyone moved to Moose Jaw, with Dad going to work for the Western Ice Co.

In 1952, Dad, Mom, Marlene, and Donald, moved to the farm at Lawson, Sask. Three more daughters joined the family, Judi and twins, Donna and Dianna.

Mom was a hard worker and always planted a huge garden and had lots of flowers, red geraniums being her favourite. She excelled at cooking and baking, whether on a coal and wood stove or later electric. Flapper pies or angel food were birthday favourites. Everyone loved her cooking and baking. In the winter evenings Mom sewed most of our clothes on a treadle Singer sewing machine. She knitted siwash sweaters, crocheted us vests, made quilts and did needle work.

In 1981 they sold the farm and moved to Moose Jaw. Mom loved her yard and her flowers were a show piece in the neighborhood. Whe Dad passed away in 1985, mom continued living on her own in Moose Jaw. On a blizzardy day in January 2010, mom moved to Surrey to live with Donna, Dianna, and Bruce and the cats.

After a brief stay in Peace Arch, mom passed peacefully on to join husband Ted Dean, daughter Marlene Ecklund, grandson Dwight Ecklund, son Donald (Dizz) Dean and his wife Verna, as well as all but one sibling.

Left to remember and mourn are son in law Glen Ecklund, grandson Cal (Carrie) Ecklund of Cranbrook and their family Sandra (Roman) Pokorny, daughter Judi (Don) Shields of Eyebrow, Sask. and their family, grandsons Jordon and Brendon and great grandsons Austin and Braxton, daughter Donna Dean and Dianna (Bruce) James of Surrey and their family, Todd (Lee) James, and great grandchildren Lucas and Ellie. Also missing grandma and the many daily trips to her room are the cat grandkids, Pepper, Lila, Manuka, and Bo. Her only remaining sibling is John Turchak of McCreary, Manitoba. We will miss your loving kindness and Bruce especially will miss your quick wit.

Since moving to Surrey to live with Donna, Dianna and Bruce, and the grandcats, Mom was blessed to receive friendship and top of the line care from Gina, Ana, and Pat, as well as Doctors Christina Kanagaratnam and Pamela Thornton. While hospitalized at Peace Arch, the 4th Floor Medical Unit showered mom with compassion and care. Thanks to Major Colleen Kimberly of the Salvation Army for visiting and saying prayers with mom. We are eternally grateful to all of you.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Salvation Army or the Heart and Stroke foundation would be appreciated.