Obituary of Eleanor Roth

ROTH: Eleanor Roth was born in Foresburg, Alberta June 27, 1921. She passed away in the University Hospital on Tuesday, April 19, 2005 at the age of 83 years. A celebration of life was conducted from the Tring Cemetery on Saturday, April 23, 2005 with Pastor Brad Diprose officiating. The Eulogy was read by her grandson Morrey Heathcote with a Fellowship following at the Dewberry Community Hall. Honorary Pallbearers, Granddaughters: Dana Hingley, Donna Chissell, Leah Adam, Lana Mock, Shelly James, Theresa Stevens, Brenda Houlden, Wanda Pietersma. Active Pallbearers, Grandsons: Brad Mock, Dwayne Mock, Kelly Mock, Morrey Heathcote, Tyler Heathcote, Clinton Heathcote. Eulogy Eleanor Roth was born June 27, 1921 in Foresburg, AB, the youngest daughter of John and Katherina Roth who had immigrated to Canada from North Dakota. Mom married Simon Mock on January 12, 1941. Together they had 5 children in a ten year span: Dennis, Wallace, Sharon, Gordon, & Beverley. They divorced in 1968. Times were tough during the early years. There never seemed to be enough money to feed and clothe the family, but somehow they made it through. Mom was a very hard worker. She raised huge gardens, took in boarders and cleaned houses to supplement an otherwise meager household budget. She was a great cook. Her lemon pies, pizza buns and scalloped potatoes were 'awesome'. Her oatmeal cookies were legendary and there were arguments over which she should make more of - chocolate chip or raison. She was also a great seamstress. Many a home has a few of her quillo's and baby quilts, and her "Elna" often worked late into the night to ensure her kids hadclothes for school. After we moved to Edmonton she went to work for Pan American Petroleum first as a janitor and later in the office; a job she reluctantly gave up when we moved to Marwayne. She made friends easily but was not afraid to speak her mind. Among her many strengths was her strong defense of her children. More than once she took teachers and even the school board to task for unfair treatment of her kids. But she was also a strict disciplinarian. No back talk or sass was allowed. If you got the strap at school, there was the 'threat' of getting another when you got home. Our home was always a gathering place for our friends and relatives. Mom used to say when our friends were there she knew where we were. This was an anomaly in the city and our neighbors didn't always appreciate the teenage brothers and their friends playing loud music and taking up 'their' parking spaces. She tackled life with zest, and was always looking for challenges. Mom was a free spirit. She did her best to enlighten us all about politics and she was known to dress down more than one politician though her letters to them and the Letters to the Editor. She was also a champion of anyone she considered an "underdog" and would stick up for them even if it was unpopular. She loved to dance and after returning to Edmonton she would work a shift at the Post Office then go the Legion to dance and play crib. She has taught most of her children, grandchildren & even her great grandchildren how to play crib, and 'some' of us how to dance. In her later years, she became crippled by arthritis, but she still managed to keep her house tidy and the flowers blooming in her flowerbed. The biggest challenge for her was it hindered her mobility as she loved to visit. She often bemoaned the fact that "people just don't visit anymore". She used to say to the young parents "don't wish your life away. Your kids will be gone before you know it and you will have lots of time alone."She had a unique knack of predicting the sex of a baby, which in this day an age, caused speculation as to who 'let the cat out of the bag?' She did not use any particular 'system', she just "knew". She loved Dewberry and the many kind people who live there, but her failing health forced her to seek assisted living. Her final months were spent living in Edmonton with her daughter Sharon. Mom's life was not an easy one. Her grandson Trevor Mock, a former daughter-in-law and special friend - Fran Mock, and her beloved eldest son Dennis predeceased her. Her parents, two brothers - Hilliard Roth and Lloyd Roth and one sister Erline Suddaby, plus many in-laws and former in-laws, with whom she remained friends despite her divorce, also predeceased her. She is survived one stepbrother Russell (Viola) of Ranfurly and one sister-in-law Kaye Roth of Calgary and her children - Dennis' wife Elsie, Wally (Shirley), Sharon (friend Ian) Mock all of Edmonton, Gordie (Faye)Mock and Bev (Derry) Heathcote, of Marwayne, 13 grandchildren and their spouses, 22 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandson. She was not only a special Mother. but also a special friend to all of us who knew her and loved her. The family of Eleanor Roth would like to thank everyone for their kindness, the flowers, cards, and expressions of sympathy mean so much at a time like this. We apologize that due to an oversight, the directions to the cemetery and the fact that there was a fellowship being held in the Dewberry Community Center after the service were not posted. Thank you to McCaws for your professional service, the ladies of the Greenlawn Goodwill Club for the lunch, Village Flowers and Gifts for the lovely arrangements, and Pastor Brad Diprose for a comforting service. The Mock and Heathcote Families Donations in memory of Eleanor may be made to the Tring Cemetery