(Violet) Blanche Johnson, 89

(VIOLET) BLANCHE JOHNSON
June 16, 1920 - June 7, 2009
After a lengthy battle with dementia, surrounded by her six children, eight of her eighteen grandchildren, and her youngest of twelve great-grandchildren, mom passed away peacefully at her daughter’s residence on the morning of June 7, 2009.
Mom will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by her daughter Verva (Ralph) Taylor of Georges River, NS – grandchildren Maxine (Freddie)-Jessica, Logan, Evan; Alice-Tyler, Cody, Hunter; Ralphie; Eddie: son Alvin (Jackie) Johnson of Atikokan, ON – grandchildren Amy (Frank)-Michael, Nicole; Jay (Shannon)-Cole; Ashley (Aaron)-Gabriel: daughter Lorraine Johnson of Kenora, ON – grandchildren Andrea, Kevin, Tom, Dave, Mark, Mike: son Dwight (Marg) Johnson of Edmonton, AB – grandchildren Ryan, Shannan, Travis: daughter Rhonda Pfeifer (John) of Fernie, BC – grandchildren Jennifer (Clay)-Caylee, Cash; Sara: and son Byron Johnson of Kenora, ON.
Mom is also survived by her siblings Lily Wilson, Victoria, BC; May Dunn, Big River, SK; Pearl Helrud, Cold Lk, AB; Dorothy (Russ) Wilson, Olds, AB; John (Barb) Dunn, Big River, SK; Bob Dunn, Big River, SK; Ruby (Paul) Vrana, Rosetown, SK; Les Dunn, Innisfail, AB; Grace (Ron) Coulter, Comox, BC; sister-in-law Dode Dunn, Big River,
SK, as well as many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by two siblings, in childhood, Ruth and Roy, daughter Carole, husband Art, parents George and Eileen Dunn, brother Ross Dunn, sisters-in-law Dorothy and Gail Dunn,brothers-in-law Les Wilson and Herb Helrud, and infant grandson Filip Johnson.
Mom was born in Loreburn, Saskatchewan on June 16, 1920 to George and Eileen Dunn and was one of thirteen children. Shemarried Arthur Johnson on October 7, 1946 and they spent the first couple years of their marriage commercial fishing on Cree Lake in Northern Saskatchewan. They lived in Big River, SK as well as the Osooyos area of the Okanagan Valley in southern BC prior tomoving to the Rainy River area in 1960.
While residing in Rainy River mom worked at Ed’s Drycleaners and the Arctic Cat factory as a sewing machine operator. She was a proud Life-long member of the Royal Canadian Legion Ladies’ Auxiliary Branch #12 as well as a member of the Rebecca’s Lodge.
Mom was a very friendly person, always on the go running errands for someone, babysitting her grandchildren, or travelling which earned her the nickname of “the galloping goose”. She loved to walk, crochet, pick berries, play bingo, horseshoes, and cards, especially crib which she had a real talent for being able to count everyone’s hand before they were able to count it themselves.
Mom moved to Kenora in 1993 and resided in Parkview Apts where she made many friends: Tim Murphy, Audrey Doucette, Louise Eisler, Florence Sinew, Mary Strawa, Bill Zabloski, Rose Carver, and Joyce Campbell to name a few.
Due to her illness she moved to her daughter’s home in July 2001 and then to Birchwood Terrace Nursing Home – 2nd Floor in April 2003.
The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to all the wonderful staff at Birchwood Terrace for the love and care mom received while being a member of the “Birchwood Family”.
Thank you to Rita, Kathryn, Gillian, Barb, and Cathy for so quickly making arrangements which allowed me to bring mom home.
Special thanks to Cecilia, Tina, and Libby whom mom had a special bond with; many thanks to Leanne, Bride and Alanna for always going the extra mile to make her look so great; to Barb for having the ability to make her laugh; to Coreena whose words “we’ll take good care of her” gave me the strength each day to walk out the door
alone. To each and every staff member...Thank you...Thank you...Thank you; you are all the best! Thank you to Bob and Laird for the ambulance ride home as well as Laird’s words of support and encouragement; to Debbie and Rob at Shoppers Home Health for putting everything in place so quickly.
A very special thank you to Dr. Bowerman for mom’s care while a resident at Birchwood, as well as his support of my wishes to bring mom home to be surrounded by her family during her final days.
Special thank you also to Cory, Jack, and Evelyn of Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Centre...you made a very difficult time easier to bear.
Thank you to Dianna, Sandy and Staff at Club Day Away. Special thanks also to Ed & Ella, Tina, Leanne, Barb, Diana W., Bride, Marilyn, Kelly C., Crisna, Cathy, Rhonda, Tracy K., Rita, Melissa, Nicole, Amber, Kim S., and to my best friend Rhonda and Jamie for all your support at this time. Your love and support along with visits, gifts of food, phone calls, cards, and flowers were overwhelming!
Mom had three wishes in life: 1) to travel coast to coast...which she did numerous times 2) to live to be 90...she passed away 9 days short of being in her 90th year and 3) to travel to Alaska...which she will do in June 2010 with her 3 daughters.
Immediate cremation has taken place and a private family service will be held in Rainy River at a later date.
We miss you and will love you forever Mom.
Online condolences may be made at www.MeM.com