ROSLYN E. FRIESEN (GATTINGER)

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ROSLYN E. FRIESEN (nee GATTINGER) Peacefully, on Saturday, January 8, 2005, Roslyn (Ros) of Winnipeg, passed away in her sleep at the St. Boniface General Hospital, after a long and courageous 24 year battle with cancer at the age of 69 years. She is survived by her husband, Ben, of 43 years of marriage; daughter Sharon and her partner Murray; son Gregory; sister Betty; brother Eugene; and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Ros was predeceased by both parents; sister Fran Smulan; and brothers-in-law, Orbin Smulan and Bill Harper. Ros always enjoyed life to the fullest. From her early days as a primary school teacher, to her year at university where she met her husband Ben, to the years of marriage and child raising, she was always the optimist. Even when she was first diagnosed with cancer in 1981, her attitude was one of challenge and determination to beat it. With the care of her Oncologist, she seemed to have done just that, as she appeared to be cancer free for a full eighteen years. A low point in her life occurred in 1999, when cancer returned in metastasized form as bone cancer. Even then, she was determined to beat it a second time. Treatments did seem to arrest the spread of the cancer, but the ensuing years took a dreadful toll as her body gradually weakened in it's fight against this intruder. She entered Palliative Care at the St. Boniface General Hospital in March of 2003, then rallied and was able to come home in time for Christmas and remained home for nearly a year, enjoying trips to the lake and visiting relatives and friends in Saskatchewan. But the toll of the cancer was too great even for her and she succumbed just three weeks after entering the hospital one last time. The church was always central to Ros' being. She was for many years actively involved in Sturgeon Creek United Church, as a Sunday School Teacher, as a choir member, on numerous committees and in outreach projects to name just a few. After her first brush with cancer, she became an active member of the Canadian Cancer Society, focusing on the Reach For Recovery Program for mastectomy patients. Her work in this area earned her both the silver and the gold award from the CCS and later, she was awarded the Medal for Courage by this organization. A Celebration of Ros' Life will be held on Monday, January 17 at 2:00 p.m. in the Sturgeon Creek United Church, 207 Thompson Drive. Our family extends a very special thank you to all the wonderful and caring staff at the St. Boniface Palliative Ward for making her last days as comfortable as possible. As an expression of sympathy, in lieu of flowers, donations in Ros' memory are encouraged to the Canadian Cancer Society, 193 Sherbrook St., Winnipeg, MB R3C 2B7; the Palliative Ward at the St. Boniface General Hospital, 409 Tache Ave., Winnipeg, MB R2H 2A6; or the United Church Mission and Service Fund. WOJCIK'S ALL BELIEFS FAITHS FUNERAL CHAPEL CREMATORIUM 897 - 4665

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 15, 2005