VERNA HASSELFIELD

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VERNA HASSELFIELD Verna Janet MacLachlan was born in Kamloops, BC on January 17, 1922, the only daughter of John Gordon MacLachlan and Dorothy Mildred Victoria Mott. When Verna was four years old, the family moved to The Pas, MB where her father was the engineer in charge of the building of the northern portion of the Hudson Bay Railway, which he subsequently managed. Verna attended school in The Pas and River Bend School in Winnipeg, MB, then took Interior Decorating at the University of Manitoba, then switched to nursing and graduated with an R.N. from St. Anthony's Hospital in The Pas. On August 17, 1947, she was married to Charles Donald Hasselfield of Deloraine, MB. Verna and Don had five children, Charles John (Dec. 21, 1948), Virginia Dagmar (December 11, 1950), Donald Barton (March 30, 1953), David Lachlan (January 30, 1955), and Elizabeth Dorothy (January 24, 1961), all of whom are living and their parent's pride! Presently 11 grandchildren mourn Verna's loss. Corey, John's only son, was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident in Vancouver in 2002. Her present grandchildren are Christa McKillop (Ginny), Vanessa Krauchi, Matthew, Michelyn, Allison Hasselfield (Bart and Judy), Stefan Christof, Katrina, Nikolas Hasselfield (David and Aggie), Natasha and Rimah Bhabha (Lisa and Mo). Verna's love for her children and grandchildren was unbounded. Despite the rigors of raising a large family, Verna was able to take part in a variety of community activities. An introduction to Square Dancing in the early 1950s in Dr. Malyska's basement led to decades of enjoyment and an active participation as a caller and teacher of Square and Round Dancing, involving clubs in Deloraine, Boissevain and Elgin (Extenders) until almost the turn of the century. In 1974, Verna received a plaque from the Antler River School Division in appreciation of her service as a trustee. She had also served on the Deloraine School Board prior to amalgamation. In the 1970s, Verna was asked by Mrs. Martha Gall and some of the ladies of the Deloraine W.I. to spearhead the compilation of the history of the past 100 years of Deloraine and district. The result was a 770 page volume entitled, Deloraine Scans a Century - 1880 to 1980 . Twenty years later, almost the same group of ladies, with Verna at the helm, published another lengthy tome called, Deloraine Meets the Millennium - 1980 - 2000 . These books are now present in most local households, a wonderful help for failing memories! This led to an award to Verna and Don from Deloraine Chamber of Commerce: Citizens of the Year - 2000 . In early 2004, Verna was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma and spent the last two and three quarter years in treatment for that and a number of other associated ailments. She passed away peacefully in the middle of the night of October 17, 2006 in the Deloraine Memorial Hospital. Donations may be made to CancerCare Manitoba or a charity of one's own choice. Smith Funeral Home, Deloraine, entrusted with arrangements.

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 24, 2006