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Many Fingers, Rosanna

July 11, 2024

Date of Service: July 18, 2024

ROSANNA MANY FINGERS, Apoiyakii passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on Thursday July 11, 2024, at the Lethbridge Regional Hospital. Rosann was born and raised into a very rich culture of family, tradition and language.     

Her parents Albert Sr. And Margaret Many Fingers ensured she was raised with these values in Issoitapii Community. She helped her Mom and Dad on the family farm with the daily chores of ranching, gardening and cooking. She loved and preferred calving season over washing dishes! She also travelled to British Columbia to pick fruit and can for the winter season.

Rosann married Gordon Heavy Shields and she became a proud and loving Mother to Edgar, Donna and Troy. She further engaged her farming skills by helping her husband farm their land.

Rosann became a young widow leaving her to raise her children on her own. She secured her Early Childhood Education Diploma in the mid-eighties. She was one of the first graduates in the ECE Program offered on the Blood Reserve. After obtaining her Diploma in Early Education she secured a Blackfoot Language Instructor position with the Kainai Board of Education. After 30 years of teaching, she retired. She had a passion working with pookaksi instilling the Blackfoot Language, culture and values. Throughout her personal and professional life, she became a loving mother to Brett and Jolaine.

Rosann’s hobbies and interests included sewing star quilts and clothing, arts and crafts-flower bouquets and painting. She collected trinkets and ornaments from various places she travelled. She was a huge fan of mystery shows the ‘Forensic Files’ where she tried to solve the mystery and the ‘who done it’. Rosann always enjoyed going for a cruise whether it be to Lethbridge, Waterton, Frank Slide, the neighbors, Standoff Hutterite Colony or to the mountains; just as long as she was out of the house for a while. She loved the various sceneries. Rosann would get up very early on the weekends to travel to garage sales and the secondhand stores; she never came home empty handed!

Rosann was a world traveler. She flew to Hawaii with her sisters and Brett, Phoenix Arizona, San Francisco for her niece Sharla’s graduation, Las Vegas for New Year’s Eve, Lake Tahoe, Lac Ste. Anne Pilgrimage and the I.N.F.R in Las Vegas where she went to cheer on her granddaughter Paige Shade. The highlight of her world travels was Memphis, Tennessee. She got to visit Elvis Presley’s Graceland Home and she even got to tour his house. She also got to visit his grave where she shed some tears for her teenage idol. She came back with mega souvenirs from Graceland but decided to keep them to herself. Another memorable place she visited was Nashville, Tennessee where she got to visit Loretta Lynn’s Ranch.

Rosann was very proud of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She encouraged all to receive an education and was proud of all their accomplishments. She supported them in their sports and various activities. Rosann also took care of her mother Margaret Many Fingers for many years; they were very close. Rosann loved her extended family and was always there to support her relatives. She was always eager to lend a helping hand. It is this love, devotion and values that she passed on to her daughter Donna. Donna took special care of her mother Rosann during the good, difficult and trying times. Donna was always with her mother and supported by giving her quality of life, keeping her comfortable and happy until her last days.

Rosann is survived by her children: Edgar (Wanda), Donna, Troy (Louann), Brett and Jolaine. Her grandchildren: Myles, Mitchell, Wyatt, Devitt and Ryan, Jenilee (Eugene), Melissa and Kelsey (Keegan), Dwight (Mandi), Mason (Chelsea), Sloane (Dalen) and Markee (Tealson), Jayden and Alyssa, T.J, Brendan, Paige, Aniel. Greatgrandchildren: Hunter, Bronc, Urijah, Kyra, Eddie, Milan (Sheanna), Jolie (Kobe), Nickayle, Teslyn and Rayden, Felix (Jade), Kashtin, Sunni and Nomadic, Jalisa, Rasheeda and Miika, Nyjah, Brielle, Desai, and Brenlee, Richard, Peyton, Destiny and Daxton, Tealson Jr. And Floral. Great-Great Grandchildren: Aries, Zayden, Zaquoia, Darlyn, Atreyis, Terry and Kinzey. Adopted children: Bambi Good Dagger, Janelle Shade and Sheryl Day Chief. Her nephews and niece whom she helped raise: Andrew Many Fingers, Jeff Tallow, Marvin Many Fingers, Jay Cody Many Fingers, Karen Many Fingers, Kelly Morin and the late Todd and Sonny Many Fingers. Her Siblings: Mildred Melting Tallow, Wilfred Soop, Clara (Mike) Sigadur, Sylvia Tail Feathers, Burton (Virna) Many Fingers and Marie (Don) Shade. Rosann is predeceased by her husband Gordon Heavy Shields and her parents Albert Sr. and Margaret Many Fingers. Her grandparents Morris and Annie Many Fingers and Dick and Beth Soop. Her infant son Maurice and grandson Buddy Healy. Her brothers Albert Jr., Gordon and Herbert Many Fingers.

The family would like to give special Thanks to the Jack Addy Cancer Centre at Lethbridge Regional Hospital for their professional care. Thank you to all her family and friends that kept her in their prayers and phoned or texted her as well. The family wishes to apologize for any names that may have been missed.

A Wake will be held at OLD AGENCY HALL, Stand Off, AB, on Wednesday, July 17, 2024 from 6:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at ST. MARY’S IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH, Blood Reserve, AB, on Thursday, July 18, 2024 at 11:00 A.M. with Father Pawel Andrasz O.M.I. celebrating.

Following the Funeral Mass, Rosanna will be laid to rest in the Many Fingers Family Plot.