SPENCER - Ms. Rita Vivian
1926 - 2012
The life of this dedicated and outstanding teacher came to an end in April 21, 2012 with family at her side. In recent years Rita had struggled with dementia and succumbed to the Alzheimer's process. Since December 2007 she had been under the watchful, compassionate and loving care of the staff of 'Prairie Lane' at Sherbrooke Community Centre in Saskatoon. Rita was born Sept. 2, 1926 in Weldon, SK. During her primary education she was advanced by two grades and thereby was teaching at the age of 16. Her first teaching position was a country school, New England, in the Birch Hills area with students ranging from grades one to ten. This was followed by some time at Queen Elizabeth in Prince Albert. All the while she continued self-education through correspondence courses and summer school earning her B.A and B.Ed. cum laude. She was known to regularly take home an armful of library books only to find that she had read them all. When Saskatoon beckoned she taught first at Albert school and Victoria school for ten years where she was instrumental in establishing the "Gifted" program. In 1952 she entered into exchange teaching in Bolton Boys School, Lancashire, England and while there she had arranged bleacher seating on the parade route for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II (who was the same age as Rita)only to spend the ceremonies in hospital for an emergency appendectomy! Upon her return from England she spent the next five happy years at the new John Lake School followed by two years as Vice-Principal at BuenaVista. During this Vice-Principal ship she was appointed 'Lady-Principal-in-Waiting' (a rare occasion then) for the new Alvin Buckwold which had not yet been built. She was an integral part of the planning and took it upon herself to personally interview each prospective new student, the parents and future staff. During her seven years administration this school enrollment grew from 140 to 800 students. In Aug. 1973 she left the exhilarating atmosphere of Alvin Buckwold for a year of the heat, humidity and U.S. politics of Houston, Texas to acquire her Masters depress in education (and to bring home a sleek new black Mercury car). During this year pictures of the majestic winter-frost covered Saskatchewan countryside brought huge waves of nostalgia. Returning to Saskatoon she immersed herself for 6 years at Grosvenor Park involving herself with 'gifted' students and staff. River Heights called and she felt it was time for a change and for someone new at the helm of Grosvenor Park. For the next five years, never one to remain idle in her own education, she involved herself in French immersion and other stimulating extra-curricular programs all the while in charge of River Heights. She retired from this vibrant school in 1985. Rita was a master teacher, an inspirational administrator and always had time for leadership beyond school (including a stint as a hockey coach) and was always ready for speaking engagements. Next to family and friends, her faith and her church were high priorities in her life. At St. Martin's United Church she served on many committees, was a member of the board for several years, was a member of their choir and was Chairperson of their board. Accolades of her capabilities and accomplishments continue to be expressed from far and wide. No task was too trivial, too big, too far away, nor too close at hand...did she always do things for the sheer joy of doing them. Some of her awards include CSLA, Founders Award (College of Education) U. of S. and a Saskatoon Library named in her honor.
Rita is survived by sister Doris A.E Sloan of Calgary, AB, and her children Kim (Howard) Washington of Queensland, Australia; Tracy (John) Buckley of Cochrane, AB and their children Trevor (Sandra Creron) and Eric (Jordie Thornycroft); her brother Jack (Vi) Spencer of Shellbrook, SK and their children Brent (Mae) Spencer of Fort Sask, AB, and children Laura, Sarah, Ashley, Luke and R.J; Gregory (Karen) Spencer of Shellbrook, SK and their children Danielle (James) Barth and son Jase, Nicole (Mathew Senger) and Cody (Shelby) Spencer; David (Coreen) Spencer of Sylvan Lake, AB, and their children Victoria and Hillary (Paul Langlois); Clark (Shelly) Spencer of Calgary, AB; and special friend Bessie Weir and family. Rita was predeceased by her parents Herbert and Nellie Spencer, an infant sister Dorothy Mae, and a brother in-law Langtry Sloan. The Celebration of Life for Rita was held on Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 2 p.m. from the St. Martin's United Church in Saskatoon, SK, with Rev. Michael Webster as officiant. Memorial donations may be made in memory of Rita to either the St. Martin's United Church, or to the Alzheimer's Society or charity of choice. Emailed condolences sent to www.beaulacfuneralhome.com will be forwarded to the family. Beau"Lac" Funeral Home was entrusted with the arrangements, 747-2828.