ELIZABETH VERNA ROY

Elizabeth Verna Roy passed away Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014, with family by her side, at her home in Rainycrest Long-Term Care in Fort Frances, Ont.
Verna was born Sept. 2, 1922 to Mary and Michael Halawaty, and spent her early years in Rainy River, Ont. until moving with her family to Fort Frances.
After high school, Verna attended Success Business College in Winnipeg, Man., after which she was employed by C.N. Telegraph until her marriage.
Verna met the love of her life, Roland Roy, while still in high school. After their marriage at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Winnipeg on April 12, 1944, she embarked upon a train journey to Sydney, N.S., where Roland was stationed in the air force.
During the remaining war years, the couple lived in Sydney, as well as Halifax, N.S., before returning to Winnipeg and then back to Fort Frances, where they raised their three children.
Verna was an accomplished homemaker and always was busy either with the children or helping the nuns or doing volunteer work.
She was a life member of the C.W.L. of St. Mary’s Parish in Fort Frances and still was on the phoning committee as late as last year before she became ill. She also was also a long-time member of the La Verendrye Hospital Auxiliary.
Verna loved curling, and she and Roland took part in many bonspiels in Fort Frances and in Minnesota over the years. At age 55, she took up golf and excelled at that, too!
The only feat it seemed she couldn’t accomplish was getting up on water skis—she tried many times over the years and always was teased that this was the only thing she couldn’t master.
But she loved the lake, and she and Roland and the children spent every summer at their cabin, first at MacDonald’s Inlet and then at Bear’s Pass.
When Roland retired, he and Verna bought a house in Lake Worth, Fla., where they spent many happy winters, returning to their beloved Rainy Lake cabin for the summer months.
Verna was a fabulous and much-loved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend. She particularly loved children and doted on her neighbour’s little ones before she moved to her apartment.
Verna is survived by her three children, Roline Maconachie (George) of Orillia, Ont., Tim Roy of Brantford, Ont., and Kim Roy (Patricia) of Fort Frances, Ont., nine grandchildren, Devon Parker, Tim Parker, Allyson Hilbert, Lauren Roy, Matthew Roy, Amanda MacFarlane, Roland Roy, Christoph Kotyk, and Travis Chabot; her beloved great-grandchildren, Ellis Parker, Jude Parker, Peyton MacFarlane, and Abigayle Kotyk; and many nieces and nephews, all whom she loved dearly.
She was predeceased by her mother and father; husband, Roland; brother, Maurice Halawaty; and sister, Julie Hegg.
Mom was a very humble person and never truly realized how much she did for everyone in her life. She was always there for anyone who needed an ear and spread love wherever she went.
She was an accomplished cook and could entertain at the drop of a hat. Her priority, always, was her family. She was a woman of great faith and very devoted to the Catholic Church.
During the last years of her life, she became a feisty political debater and kept us entertained with her ideas.
Mom, we will all miss you more than you could ever imagine, but we are relieved that your suffering is over and that you are now reunited with Dad and safe in God’s hands.
A funeral mass will be said in Verna’s honour on Monday, Sept. 29, 2014 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Fort Frances, with Fr. Victor De Gagné officiating.
The honorary pallbearers will be her grandchildren, her nieces and nephews, her children’s spouses, and her many numerous special friends
In memoriam donations may be made to either the St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church Building Fund or the Rainycrest Long-Term Care Memorial Fund c/o Green Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M8.
Online condolences may be offered at www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com