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Marie King

Marie King

Passed on: November 12th, 2017

Marie passed away November 12, 2017 at Wascana Grace Hospice, but not before making sure there was ice cream in her room fridge and a $5 bill for each of the grandchildren/great-grandchildren who were coming to say their good-byes. She gave to others until she could physically give no more. That is the legacy she leaves for her family and all those who knew her. For Marie, Caring = Cooking. She loved to cook and food was the “gift” she shared at every chance. She was never happier than “rattling her pots and pans” in the specially-designed kitchen of her Moose Jaw home. Her library of cookbooks, and scrapbooks with recipe clippings filled multiple drawers. And she had at least one special recipe for every member of the family - which she compiled into her own cookbook. It was her 2009 Christmas gift to her children and grandchildren. Marie’s joy of cooking and culinary creativity were “hereditary”, something she learned from her mother and shared with her sisters. She tried to preserve some of her Romanian heritage by perfecting a few traditional dishes - all family favorites. Her priorities were always family and church. She defined “family” broadly and always added a few extra plates for guests at her legendary holiday feasts. She was 84 when she prepared all the food for about 40 family members at her last “Christmas in July” in Moose Jaw. The oldest of four sisters, Marie was born April 23, 1927 in Flintoft, Saskatchewan to Romanian pioneers Nick and Vera Lipan. She began her education in Flintoft in a one-room school house and later attended high school in Limerick, Saskatchewan. It was while working in Regina in her early 20s that she met Floyd King, a farm boy from Tuxford, Saskatchewan. Following their marriage in 1949, she began a new life on the King family farm. By the time their daughter and twin boys were ready to start school, the family moved to Moose Jaw - a place Marie called home for the next 57 years. Marie was intensely proud of her three children - Janice, the newspaper editor; Keith, the artist and teacher; and Ken, the police officer. She was a loving mother with high expectations for her children. Once they all left home in the ‘70s to attend university, she started her own university studies in social work at the University of Regina. That led to later work with the John Howard Society in Moose Jaw and several years as a home care assessor. Floyd’s retirement in 1985 meant “early retirement” for Marie, as they began travelling extensively. In 1987, they purchased a residence in Mesa, Arizona and started their 10-year life as “snowbirds”, migrating annually with many of their Moose Jaw friends. As an “empty-nester”, Marie joined Toastmasters International and earned Toastmaster of the Year honours. Always striving for education and self-improvement, Marie continued to challenge the stereotype of an aging grandmother. At 80, she joined Curves to “stay in shape”. When she was 83, she signed on with the Riverside Mission in Moose Jaw to provide weekly desserts for about 50 people at the homeless shelter. After Floyd’s death while on vacation in Maui in 2005, Marie immersed herself in her work with the church, serving as pastoral care co-ordinator for several years. In July 2013, the same month she moved to Regina, she made her third visit to Romania - this time with her three kids. At the age of 85, she fulfilled the dream of taking her children on a pilgrimage to share with them a country she loved and teach them more about their Romanian roots. As her final wish, her ashes will be buried with Floyd’s at Rosedale Cemetary in Moose Jaw. In addition to her husband, Marie was predeceased by all three of her sisters: Katherine Flamand, Flora Richenberger and Alice Nenson. Left to honour her memory are her children: Janice (Ken) Dockham of Regina, Kenneth (Melvina) King of Hoey, and Keith (Roseann) King of Hudson Bay. Also mourning their Grandma’s death are her 12 grandchildren: Carrie (Chad) Hackel, Kell Dockham, Charis (Mark) Patterson, Aaron Hackel, Katherine (David) Braden, Karen (Mark) Gerelus, Ryan (Lisa) King, Jocelyn (Tyson) Chillog, Abby (James) Schnaider, Heather (Shaun) Fiolleau, Jonathan (Gisele) King, Rebecca (Sam) Farthing. As well, “GG” will be lovingly remembered by her 31 great-grandchildren. The family wishes to acknowledge and thank the agencies and special people who were part of their mom’s “circle” of caring - including Dr. Kathy Ferguson and her colleagues and hospital staff on Unit 4B at the Pasqua Hospital and the caring and compassionate staff at Wascana Grace Hospice. A celebration of Marie’s life will be held Monday, November 20 at 3 p.m. at Minto United Church, 1036 - 7th Avenue N.W. in Moose Jaw with Rev. Linda Thomlinson-Seebach officiating. In lieu of flowers, Marie’s request was that friends and family consider a donation to Minto. In living memory of Marie, a memorial planting will be made by W. J. Jones & Son Funeral Home. Please sign the memorial register at website: www.wjjonesandson.com (Obituaries).
Stephanie Lowe- Funeral Director

 

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