Barbara Rollefson (nee Jones)
June 1, 1922 – April 24, 2015
Barbara has left us with no more than the fondest of memories after her peaceful passing away at Pioneer Lodge at the age of 92. She blessed us with her positive attitude throughout her entire life. She was the last surviving member of her generation in the Rollefson family that included her most beloved husband, Jim Rollefson, his brothers and sisters and their spouses. Those left to celebrate her wonderful life are her son, Jim of Ottawa and Trujillo, Peru (Carolina) and her daughter, Beverley Curran (Len) of Moose Jaw, her grandchildren, Allison Curran (Jae-Wan Lee) of Minneapolis, Nathan Curran of Regina and Meghan Curran (Trevor Gerbrand) of Edmonton and treasured great-grandchild, Jae Curran-Lee; her siblings and their spouses of the Jones family in England: Reginald Jones (Celia) and their children Debbie Lean (Mike) and Lucille Browning (Graham), Edna Jones, Patricia Jones, David Jones (Barbara) and her sister Kathleen’s daughter Susan Peck (Gregory) and their sons, Edward, William and James. Barbara was also a loving aunt and great aunt to a host of children born to the extended Rollefson, Carefoot and Williams family in Canada and USA.
Barbara was born in Winchester, England to Roland and Mabel Jones. As she was the oldest of six children, she had always been referred to by her siblings as “their other mother”. She lived an exciting life as the daughter of a British Dress Sergeant. The family was stationed in various parts of England as well as India and Germany. She would talk of her trips through the Suez Canal on to such places as Calcutta and Darjeeling. To enjoy some independent life she made herself a commitment to strive to not get married before her twenty-fifth birthday. To be able to support his mother Jim Rollefson had made a similar commitment to not get too seriously involved with one woman until as late as possible. However, when “Rolly” as a navigator with the RCAF in the Second World War and she in the RAF met up, the attraction became so strong that they ended up getting married on April 8, 1944 after dating less than a year.
Barbara came to Canada with her son in arms as a British War Bride in 1946 arriving at Halifax’s famous Pier 19 with its transcontinental railway station. The very warm reception she received from all of her husband’s extended family as she climbed off the CPR train in Moose Jaw was the auspicious beginning of a wonderful and happy life. In the first few years Miriam and Claude Carefoot would come and pick them up every Sunday and drive them up to their farm to enjoy a family get-together and a fine meal. Cardy Rollefson and his wife Mary Wilkie made sure they could spend some vacation time at the Wilkie cottage at Regina Beach. When Barbara, her husband and children were able to get to London every five or six years they were treated most royally by the Jones’. All of this is to say that both sides of the family were wonderful and with the very loving relationship that Jim and Barbara shared they formed the nucleus of loving and tender care for all.
This is not to say that everything came on a platter for Barbara. She played a huge role in making all this work. She was an accomplished household manager as well as an exemplary wife, mother, grandmother and later, great-grandmother. She took advantage of every opportunity to economize and focus her resources on what was really important to them. Her son and daughter recognize and appreciate how this judicious priority-setting and effective follow-up gave them great opportunities to develop and pursue successfully their own careers and lives.
After her husband’s passing Barbara eventually moved to the Bentley where she really appreciated all the activities, especially the dancing nights.
You are all welcome to her Celebration of Life ceremony to be held in St. Andrew’s United Church, Saturday, May 2, at 1:30 pm to be presided by the Reverend Jim Tenford. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Andrew’s United Church or Chip and Dale Homes, 75 Kress St., Regina, SK, S4N5X8. In living memory of Barbara, a memorial planting will be made by W.J. Jones & Son Funeral Home. Please sign the memorial register at website: www.wjjonesandson.com (Obituaries).
Lew Young Funeral Director