Keen: Edith Mary Gwendoline (September 19, 1920 - July 12, 2015) - Edith (Edie) passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 12, 2015 after a long battle with Alzheimer's. She is now at rest with our Lord.
Edie was born in Lillestrom, Saskatchewan on September 19, 1922. She was the fifth child and the second daughter born to Edward (Ted) Barnett and Edith Emily Carter. She grew up walking to a one-room school house with her nine brothers and sisters. Life wasn't always easy during some of those years, but they had strength in family and always found something to celebrate; which included meals around a large farmhouse table where everyone was always welcome. Her mother was an excellent cook, a talent Edie inherited from her.
Edie had six brothers, Philip (Lilly), Bill (Patricia) John (Eva) Charlie (Peggy), Leo (Jean) and Alan (Sherry), and three sisters, Dorothy (Ben Sapergia), Phyllis (Lawrence Craig) and Alice (Bruce Brander).
In 1942 Edie moved to Victoria, British Columbia where she met and married her first husband, Charles Edward Hayward on October 15, 1943. Chuck was in the Army and shortly after they were married was shipped overseas; WWII was in full swing. In May of 1944 their daughter, Gale (Kaffka) was born. Six months later Edie moved back to Saskatchewan. She was a young mother living on her own in a city shrouded in darkness at night - the street lights were turned off, vehicle headlights covered and all the windows had blackout curtains because of the possible threat of invasion - Saskatchewan was calling her name.
A year after Chuck returned home from the war they moved to Regina, Saskatchewan where their three other children were born, Garry (Delores) - May 1948, Daryle - July 1954 and Gwen (Richard Laliberte) - January 1956.
On September 19, 1964 Edie married her second husband, James Newcombe Keen. Jim was a mechanical engineer and worked in some very interesting places - Australia, China, Japan and Indian were just a few of the locations. Edie was fortunate enough to go with him and enjoy these far off countries. They also traveled extensively for pleasure.
Edie and Jim often had foreign students boarding with them. Edie's great cooking and kind treatment of these students made her home very popular and she was constantly getting calls from students who wanted to be considered if someone moved out.
Edie loved her grandchildren. She was a favorite with her grandson's, Michael and Erick and her great grandson, Erick. Unfortunately, she didn't get to know her great granddaughters very well because of her Alzheimer's. Edie enjoyed all her nephews and nieces, with a special place in her heart for Kevin Craig, her sister, Phyllis' son.
Edie's family would like to thank Shirley (Barnett) and her husband, Alan Leimieux, for always being there for her when she was living in Moose Jaw before she returned to Osoyoos for the last time and for all the caring phone calls Shirley made after Edie went into the Mariposa and Sunnybank Nursing Homes. It meant a lot to Edie and she mentioned it many times.

After Jim passed away, Edie lived on her own with her students and later with her grandson, Erick and his wife Alicia before her doctor said it was necessary to have her moved into an Alzheimer's home, she needed 24 hour care and it wasn't safe to have her at home any longer.
Her family was very sad to be losing their mother and grandmother to a disease that was taking away her identity. Fortunately for Edie, Erick and his wife lived in Osoyoos when she first moved into Mariposa in the fall. Edie's daughter, Gwen moved back to Osoyoos the next summer and her daughter, Gale who lives in Washington State was visiting twice a month, so Edie had lots of visits and outings with her family.
A little over a year ago, Erick and Alicia moved from Osoyoos and Gwen did a wonderful job of keeping Edie company and taking her places, occasionally bringing her home to spend the night while she was still able to leave Sunnybank. Edie was well loved and cared for.
Edie is survived by her children Gale, Daryle and Gwen, her grandchildren, Michael and Erick Kaffka and Alisa Hayward - Garry's daughter, and great grandchildren, Erick, Savanna, Jasmin and Elena Kaffka - Erick's children and 32 nephews and nieces and their families.
Edie's brother's children: Philip Barnett - Gordon (Patricia), Donald (Cheryle). Bill Barnett - Dennis Julie), Brian. John Barnett - Elaine (Meadows), Shirley (Alan Leimieux), Clifford (Bonnie). Charlie Barnett - Linda (Girodot), Mervyn, Leonard, Grant. Leo Barnett - Larry (Dale), Barry (Marlene), Blair (Wendy), Debbie (Cam Myers), Bonnie. Alan Barnett - Mark, Cory (Lisa).
Edie's sister's children: Sapergia - Kenneth (Gail), Allan, Lorne (Linda), Darlene (Ray Petch), Kathleen (Ron Olson), Diane (Bob Pryor), Douglas (Linda). Craig - Carrol (Patrick Morkin), Kevin (Yommi). Brander - Arlene (Les Parsons), Berverly (Randy Barbar), Judy, Jim (Lenora). Edie also had numerous great and great, great nephews and nieces.
Edie was predeceased by both her husbands, Charles Hayward and James Keen, her son Garry Hayward, her brother's - Phillip, Bill, John, Leo Barnett, her sister, Dorothy (Sapergia), her niece Elaine Barnett-Meadows and her nephews, Mervyn and Leonard Barnett, her brother-in-laws, Lawrence Craig, and Ben Sapergia and her sister-in-laws Eva and Patricia.
Edie will be missed by her family and friends, she was hard worker and lived her life to the fullest - she did her best.
As an expression of sympathy please make donations to an Alzheimer's Society in your area in Edith's name. Alzheimer's is a devastating disease that is on the rise, we need to find the cause and a cure.
A Graveside Service will be held on Monday, July 20, 2014, 1 o’clock at Osoyoos Lakeview Cemetery with Pastor Jeremy Cook officiating.
Arrangements entrusted to Blaine Krist at:
Gaham Funeral Home
5920 Kootenay Street
Oliver, B.C. (250) 498-3833
Your message of condolence may be sent to www.grahamfh.com