Mary I. Van Dusen

On March 7, 2017 Mary Van Dusen passed away peacefully at the Assiniboia Union Hospital. Mary was born on June 27, 1920 on the family farm near Valor. Her parents, James and Maggie Mitchell moved onto the farm when they were married in 1912. Their children were Mary and her four brothers Gavin, Gordon, Jimmy and Johnny and a baby sister, Margaret, who was born in 1933, but passed away five days later. The work was hard, but there was a lot of fun to be had. Mary’s priorities were her friends and family and spending as much time as possible with her nieces. She loved the family visits from Britain, and her letter writing knew no bounds. Her love of travel began with a trip to B.C. on a train that had a fancy dining car, and she was awed by the mountains. Her second exciting trip was to England aboard the Empress of Britain in 1957. Mary enjoyed curling, square dancing, cards and puzzles, music and old movies. Mary taught Sunday school at the United Church and belonged to the Rebekah Lodge. Mary, Gordon and their mom, Maggie lived on the family farm until 1979, when they moved to Assiniboia. There were lonely times after Maggie and Gordon passed away; but then she met Darl Van Dusen, and they were married in 1989. They had nine happy years together, with travels to Britain, Australia and the Yukon, visiting family and friends. Mary moved to West Side Court on November 1, 2006. Among her greatest friends were the Home Care girls, who gave her more comfort, pleasure and caring than they will ever know. Mary once wrote of the hard times, “It was disheartening, but there was always some brightness along with it to make it livable, and there were always good friends and neighbors.” Predeceased by her husband Darl Van Dusen (1998), parents Jim and Maggie (Powrie) Mitchell, infant sister; brothers Gavin, Gordon, Jim (Joyce), John (Pat) and niece Anne Cisna. Mary is survived by: niece Beth & Bob Jessop (Innisfail), their daughter Jaimie (Calgary) and their son Rob and his wife Erica (Calgary), niece Jean & Guy Cayer (Assiniboia), their son Chad and Amber Galamore and sons Deighton, Ryder, Levi and daughter Destiny, who live on the homestead, and their daughter Kendra Cayer & Cole Feicht (Assiniboia), nieces Marjorie Mitchell (Kelowna) and Evelyn Mitchell (Fort Collins, Colorado), niece Anne’s husband Stan Cisna (Gronlid, SK), their daughter, Diamond Cisna (Edmonton) and their sons, Andrew Cisna and Alacja Weddell (Edmonton) and Jeratt Rolston (Ft. McMurray), niece Marion & Ed Sadlemyer (Grand Coulee), their son, Trevor and his wife Sasha and their sons Zachary and Zayden (Buena Vista) and their daughter Kelsey and Kelly Petryna and their sons Frank and Jesse (Grand Coulee) and stepdaughter Kasey (Calgary), stepson Rick Van Dusen, stepdaughter Candace and her children Stacey and David. Funeral Service for Mary was held on Friday, March 17, 2017 at Ross Funeral Chapel with Reverend Marilyn Leuty officiating. Tribute given by Tom Powrie. Pallbearers were Bruce Batty, Glenn Batty, Marvin Batty, Bob Ellert, Bill Seal and Bruce Richards. Interment at Mount Hope Cemetery, Assiniboia. Memorials were received for the Saskatchewan Heart & Stroke Foundation. Arrangements entrusted to Ross Funeral Service, Assiniboia, SK. An online book of condolences may be signed at www.rossfuneralservice.com.