ROSE MICHAELIS passed away peacefully at her home on December 19, 2009.

She was born in Pleasant Home, Manitoba on February 8, 1918. Rose was predeceased by her husband, Harry, daughter, Barbie and great grandson Griffin Slawson, two sisters and two brothers.

She is survived by her daughter Connie Watmough (Norm) and their children Pam (Brad) and Tyler (Sherry), son Wayne Michaelis (Diana) and their children Tami (Terry), Roxanne (Greg), Billie Jean (Stacy), Jeff (Dena); daughter Bonnie Trommelen (Peter) and their children Mark (Amanda) and Kimberly (Nathan), nine great grand children and her sister Ellen Opperman (Len).

Rose went to school for her primary years in Pleasant Home and later boarded with a family in Teulon for High School. Working in Winnipeg, Rose met Harry at a dance while he was in the Air Force. They married July 11, 1943, at the farm in Pleasant Home. In 1946 they moved to Alberta to their farm at Wilson Siding. Then in 1957 the family moved to an acreage outside Lethbridge.

She was a devoted mother to her special needs daughter, Barbie and was actively involved with the Dorothy Gooder School for special needs children.

Rose’s lifelong passion was her art. She took a 3 year correspondence course from Chicago and later attended the Winnipeg School of Art for 4 months until the money ran out. She leaves family and friends with many paintings, scratch art, painted rocks and cards. Right to the end she continued to create her art and live in her own home. She had many special friendships, including her Tea gang which lasted for over 50 years. She was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, including the Ladies Aid, the Women’s Auxiliary of the Royal Canadian Legion and the Sketch Club where she was an honorary life member. For the past eight years she enjoyed living at Village Green Condo where she had many special friends. She so appreciated how they helped her attend the Christmas dinner last week.

Mom was an avid gardener and filled shelves and the freezer with her produce. Although she had to give up her garden when she moved to Village Green, she continued to plant pots overflowing with the flowers she so loved. She carefully pressed flower petals to create her many beautiful cards.

Mom loved animals, especially horses, dogs and cats. The dogs at the farm always knew that when mom arrived, they would receive a bounty of tasty scraps that she had carefully saved for them.

She loved to cook and bake. She always had her puffed wheat or rice krispie squares or the coveted cinnamon buns at every family gathering. Very proud of her Ukrainian heritage, she helped prepare the Pyrohy’s for this year’s traditional Christmas Eve Dinner with her family. We know Mom will be with us in spirit as we continue the tradition this year.

Her focus was always her family, faith and friends and she will be dearly missed.

Relatives and friends are invited to a Visitation at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2800 Mayor Magrath Drive South, Lethbridge on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 from 7:00 to 8:00 P.M.

A Funeral Service will be held at IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 20 Rocky Mountain Blvd. West, Lethbridge, AB. on Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 1:00 P.M. with Pastor Richard Brown officiating. Interment to follow at Mountain View Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation, 960-19 Street South, Lethbridge, AB., T1J 1W5 would be appreciated.