MARY-JEAN ROBERTSON (BARNET)

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MARY-JEAN ROBERTSON (nee BARNET) March 8, 1935 August 20, 2011 Peacefully, on August 20, 2011, with family by her side, Mary-Jean Robertson passed through the gates of heaven. She spent her life loving and serving the Lord and looked forward to being with Him in heaven. She was predeceased by her parents Adam John and Gladys Mary Barnet, her husband Dr. David Robertson and by her grandson, Nathan Geddes. Mary-Jean leaves behind her children, Bob Geddes and partner Tootie, Elaine (Zoltan) Csupak, Bill Geddes (Elisa Bell) and Thomas Geddes. She also leaves to mourn, her grandchildren Kristen, Andrew and Erika Csupak, Jade Geddes, Weston Bell-Geddes, and Maya Geddes. She also leaves brothers Jim (Lorette) Barnet and George (Avis) Barnet and her nieces, nephews and numerous aunts and uncles. She also leaves behind family members Bob and Val Geddes, Sharon Geddes and Miwa Geddes. Mary-Jean led a life of service to the Lord. She grew up in St. James, graduating from St. James High School in 1953, after which she followed in her mother's footsteps and attended Nursing school at the Misericordia Hospital, graduating in 1957. After graduation she focused on raising her children and her nursing career in Winnipeg. She moved to Richmond, BC in 1965 and later to Penticton. In Penticton, she found her home church at Penticton First Baptist where she matured as a Christian and received God's calling to the mission field. After her husband's death in 1978, she attended Prairie Bible Institute. It was there in 1984 that she accepted a short term mission in the Congo and returned with a passion to serve the Lord in Africa. She went on to complete a Bachelors degree in Christian education in 1986, moved to Quebec for a year to learn French, went to Belgium and completed her tropical medicine course, then off to the Congo where she studied Swahili. In September 1990, at the age of 51 years, she arrived in Nebobongo Congo, where she would spend the next 16 years serving the Lord. She spent time in the jungle doing surgical safaris, setting up and working in the operating room, teaching nursing and finally doing child evangelism. While in Congo, she was instrumental in assisting five local students through medical school, all of whom came back as doctors to serve in Nebo. When she was diagnosed with cancer, she was not able to return to the mission field and made her home in Winnipeg to be close to her family. She was a loving mother and grandmother and had a huge impact on the lives of all her children and grandchildren. She continued her mission work going on annual speaking circuits to raise money for the hospital in Nebo and was able to fund the building of two new operating rooms. In Winnipeg, she found a home at Elim Chapel and volunteered many hours with the food bank at the Waves of Glory Chapel. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. A celebration of her life will take place Friday, August 26, 2011 at 11:00 a.m., at Elim Chapel, 546 Portage Avenue. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mom's memory to Waves of Glory Food Bank, Christmas Dinner: 364 Furby Street, Winnipeg, MB R3B 2V5.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 23, 2011