Obituary of Jeanne Kroetsch

Jeanne Mary Kroetsch as born to Valentine Poepping and Alma Steil on May 20, 1933 in Strome, Alberta. Her job as a waitress in the Heisler café drew her to the attention of Delmond Kroetsch. They married July 3, 1951. This union was blessed with six children. They led a busy life with multiple endeavors including coal mining, farming, trucking, school buses, mail routes and caterpillar work. Jeanne was a very ambitious wife supporting Del in his businesses while she cared for her children, drove one of the school buses, tended a well-kept garden, cooked and baked all kinds of wonderful food, and kept a spotless house and yard. Del and Jeanne began practicing retirement in 1976 and a few years later became full time Arizona snowbirds each winter until Del's passing in 2001. Jeanne enjoyed baking, cooking, knitting, crocheting, bridge, golf and caring for her grandchildren. After the death of Del and her daughter Kathy, Jeanne began to experience symptoms of dementia which by 2008 resulted in her needing assisted living. The disease progressed rapidly until the time of her passing. She spent the past two and a half years at Eastview where she received wonderful attentive care and was as happy as one could be under the circumstances. Jeanne was predeceased by her husband Del; an infant son David; one daughter Kathy; one grandson; her parents; one brother Norbert. She leaves to mourn her passing four children Randy (Wendy), Ricky Lynn (Nolan) Hoyme, Michelle (Lyle) Albrecht and Pam (Kevin) Dancek; twelve grandchildren Chandra, Jason, D.J., Tyler, Kevin, Shaun, Jaquie, Patricia, Lucas, Joshua, Quinten and Kate; five great-grandchildren Phillip, Delmond, Madison, Emma and Will; and numerous friends and relatives. "Nanny's good times were becoming bad times so it was time for her to say good bye and go to a better place." ~Granddaughter Kate, Age 4 A Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 19, 2012 from St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church with Rev. Larry Pederson as celebrant. Memorial contributions are gratefully accepted to the Stollery Children's Hospital, Bethany Foundation Eastview Unit,the Heisler Cemetary Fund or the charity of one's choice.