Obituary of Eileen Flath

 

February 26, 1933 - January 10, 2024

90 Years

We the family of Eileen Flath are saddened to announce her passing on January 10, 2024, at the age of 90, at the Rosthern Hospital with family by her side.

 

Eileen was born to Wallace and Martha Reid on February 26, 1933, 13 months after her sister Evelyn. Evelyn and Eileen were inseparable, with mom changing her career choice so she could go to Lab Tech training with her sister instead of becoming a nurse. Their brother Norman joined the family in 1944. Eileen married Otto Vataman and moved to the Lafleche area and worked in Assiniboia as a Lab Tech. After Otto passed away in 1969, Eileen and her girls (DeLee and Renay) moved to Moose Jaw where she resided until she married Robert Flath in 1982 and moved to Rosthern in the early-1980s. Jim became part of the family after this marriage.

 

Mom then took on the role of a farmer's wife and always had delicious meals delivered to the field during harvest. Her cinnamon buns were the best, as well as any meal she made.

 

When the grandkids came along, she was elated. The ones that were close to Rosthern spent a lot of time at grandmas, whether it was being babysat or just hanging out with grandma as they got older. Mom's first great-grandson, Lincoln, was born in July 2023 and her eyes lit up and she got a huge smile every time they would go and visit.

 

Vascular dementia was not kind to mom and her short term memory was essentially gone. She would occasionally surprise you and remember the oddest things. The last five years were very hard on Mom as her memory slipped and everyday tasks became tougher and tougher. The move from their home to Averon and then to Sunrise Place within a year took its toll. The care she received at Sunrise was second to none and she considered it home. With Dad's passing in July 2023, Mom became very lonely and missed her husband very much. On January 3, Mom fell at Sunrise and broke her hip. She had surgery on January 6 and suffered a severe stroke that evening. She passed peacefully, back in Rosthern on the 10th.

 

Mom loved flowers and plants and planted a large garden each year, preserving the produce to use throughout the year.

 

Bob and Eileen enjoyed travelling and took many trips to different countries around the world. She also enjoyed the annual fishing trips with the whole family.

 

Faith in the Lord was very important to Mom. She attended the First Baptist Church in Moose Jaw and then Trinity Lutheran Church in Rosthern. She volunteered in both churches and was a member of the ELW in Rosthern. Mom also volunteered at the Rosthern Food Bank.

 

She was predeceased by her first husband, Otto Vataman; second husband, Robert Flath; daughter DeLee Jantzen; sister Evelyn (Jack) Hill; brother Norman (Jackie) Reid; nephew Gordon Hill; great-nephew Norman Hill; and many in-laws on the Vataman side. She is survived by her son Jim (Annette) Flath; daughter Renay (Darren) Kowalczyk; son-in-law Fred Jantzen; six grandchildren: Meghan (Josh), Rachel, Jared (Nicole), Ashley (Ryan), Luke and Katie (Mason); great-grandson Lincoln Robert William; many nieces and nephews; several in-laws on the Vataman side.

 

The family would like to thank all the caregivers at Sunrise Place at the Mennonite Nursing Home for their care and compassion over the last few years. We would also like to thank the doctors and nurses at Rosthern Hospital and Royal University Hospital for the excellent care she received in the last week of her life.

 

****

 

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE LIVE STREAM OF THE FUNERAL SERVICE

 

 

FUNERAL SERVICE

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

2:00 P.M.

Trinity Lutheran Church

918 – 4^th Avenue

Rosthern, SK

 

 

INTERMENT

Rosthern Cemetery

 

 

 

Arrangements entrusted to Funk's Funeral Home, Rosthern, SK 

 

---

 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Eileen Flath, please visit Tribute Store