JANET ISABELLE KETCHEN (SMITH)

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JANET ISABELLE KETCHEN (nee SMITH) Janet Isabelle Ketchen (nee Smith), 349 Princess Blvd., Flin Flon, MB, died peacefully on March 18, 2005. Internment is at Ross Park Cemetery, beside her husband Maynard. Isabelle was born in Swan River on November 16, 1915. Predeceased by her parents, Charles and Emma (nee Danard), a sister four brothers and a sister-in-law. She is survived by her brother and his wife and three other sisters-in-law. Around 1932 Isabelle and her family moved to Flin Flon from the Swan River Valley. She travelled to Toronto, lived with an aunt, studied piano, attended high school and obtained a diploma in Practical Nursing. Isabelle married Maynard Bus Ketchen, on November 5, 1938. At the onset of the Second World War, Bus joined the navy and Isabelle went to work for HBM S in the Mill, a job made redundant with the return of war veterans. In 1947, Isabelle and Bus purchased one of the 50 new houses built for returning veterans. Isabelle lived there for the rest of her life. She had become an avid curler and she and her husband were among the first members of the Willowvale Curling Club. Isabelle had led her rink from Willowvale to win the 1952 Manitoba Provincial Curling Championship, a feat repeated in 1959 when she and her team won the Western Canada Curling Championship. In 1960, the Ketchen rink won the Manitoba Championship but lost out in the final game of the Western Canadian event finishing second. Subsequently, Isabelle personally, and later the 1959 to 1960 champions were inducted into the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame. The Willowvale Curling Club, in recognition of her accomplishments later awarded her a Life membership and ultimately she was appointed Chairperson Emeritus of the Club. A bronze plaque commemorating her accomplishments is on display at the Club. In June 1960, Isabelle lost her beloved husband to cancer. Isabelle enrolled in the Manitoba Technical Institute's commercial course in Winnipeg. On completion of the course she was offered a position as commercial teacher at Hapnot Collegiate contingent upon completing grade eleven at summer school. She obtained her junior matriculation that year and was granted a temporary teaching certificate. For the next 10 years Isabelle attended summer school in Winnipeg to complete the requirements for a permanent certificate. By then she was head of the Commercial department at Hapnot. She retired from teaching in 1982. Isabelle was inducted to the Manitoba Order of the Buffalo, one of the Province's highest honours on April 10, 1959. In retirement Isabelle served on the Flin Flon School Board and unsuccessfully ran for the position of Mayor of the City of Flin Flon. She continued her active involvement in the community as an advocate of improved services for seniors as well as personally assisting seniors with the problems of taxation, pensions etc. In addition, she quietly pursued many philanthropic activities. Auntie Belle , is survived by many relatives. These include cousins in the McFarlane, Danard, Henderson, Stevenson and Jeffery families as well as Cox relatives and descendants. Extended family relatives include many Danards, Dainards, Daynards and Aikens' from the Prince Edward County, Owen Sound, Saint Marys and Grimsby areas of Ontario. A recent Danard (sic) re-union at Danard Lake, near Golden, BC was attended by representatives of nearly 60 families. Auntie Belle will be sorely missed by 14 adoring and adored nieces and nephews, and a lifelong friend Bob Romphf. Isabelle lived life to the fullest with an optimistic acceptance of events and a determination to contribute to the community. She was loved and admired by her family and her many friends. She passed away happy, content and proud. We will all miss her.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 06, 2005