MABEL VAN JOFF

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MABEL VAN JOFF October 15, 1908 - October 21, 2002 Mabel Van Joff was born in Kalmakoff, SK on October 15, 1908. She moved in 1917 to a farm near Ste. Rose du Lac, MB with her parents Nicholas and Pola and her younger brother Peter. Her parents, whose families were independent Doukhobors, came to Canada in 1898 from the Caucasus Mountains region of Russia. After a few years of school in Ste. Rose, Mabel went back to Buchanan, SK to complete high school. She spent most of her life on the family farm north of Ste. Rose. She loved the space and the beauty of the farm. After her fathers death in 1954, Mabel worked for some years at the Ste. Rose hospital, but her real love was grain farming. She stayed on the farm as long as she could, until age 87. Mabel was a very direct, proud and independent woman with a great sense of humour and fun. She was skilled at needlework and gardening, and loved to travel and read. She wrote several short stories that were published in magazines. Mabel was an active member of the United Church, a strong NDP supporter and for several years a member of the Board of the seniors housing units. Mabel was predeceased by her father in 1954, her mother in 1958, brother Peter in 1994 and her sister-in-law Agnes (MacCarthy) in 1997. She is survived and remembered with deep affection by her four nieces and their families, Verna (Charles) Polcyn, Carol (Kees) Van Teeling, Pola (Bjorn) Gislason, Frances (Kelly) Yeske. The family wishes to thank her many friends and neighbours for their kindness and assistance to Mabel, especially in the last few years that she lived on the farm. We thank as well the dedicated and compassionate staff at the Dr. Gendreau Personal Care Home. If desired, donations may be made in Mabels memory to the Dr. Gendreau Personal Care Home in Ste. Rose du Lac. A memorial service will be held at the Ste. Rose United Church on November 9 at 1:00 p.m.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 02, 2002