Obituary of Velma Bowden

July 11, 1948 - April 10, 2024

75 Years

Velma Violet Bowden (nee Dietrich) went to be with our Lord and Savior on 10^th April 2024. She was 75 years old. Left to mourn her are her husband Peter and children Michelle (Chris) Mack, Michael (Laurie) Bowden, Nicole Bowden, Denise (Jean-Marc) Lalonde, and Danielle (Merle) Pilon; grandchildren Avery and Emma (Mack), Maya and Ping (Bowden); Kyran and Hayden (Mack); Theo, Eloise, and Cedric (Lalonde); and Sebastian, Noelle, and Logan (Pilon); her sister Bea (Johnson) and Elsie (Varsegi). She was predeceased by her father Henry and mother Edythe; her brothers Ted, Ernie and Carl; and her sisters Bunny, Boots, Marlene, Margaret and Thelma. A celebration of life will be held at the Rosthern Youth Farm log house on July 11^th, 2024, at 2PM. Following the celebration, the Mennonite Nursing Home Chaplain Amos Fehr will lead a song and prayer during the graveside vigil in Rosthern cemetery.

Velma was born on July 11^th, 1948, in Regina. Her twin sister Thema (Benham) shared the same day, being born just a few minutes apart. Her mother was a devoted housekeeper and mother, her father a bartender. One of her fondest childhood memories was walking to school with Irene Juncus and playing ball with Dwight Buchan. Both became lifelong friends. Of eleven children, Velma was the only one to earn her grade twelve diploma. She used that to enter into nursing, gaining her diploma at Brandon General Hospital in Manitoba. She found her first work at the University of Alberta Burns Unit. In 1973, she met her future husband, Peter, and the couple moved to England. They were married in 1974 and lived in the UK for almost 4 years. During that time, Michelle was born. In 1977, the family moved to Canada to a farm near Ridgedale, and then to Osler with a new baby, Michael. Shortly thereafter Velma began working for the VON (Victorian Order of Nurses.)

 

1981 saw another move, this time to Saskatoon where Nicole, Denise and Danielle were born. Velma worked for Homecare before taking a nursing position in Sherbrooke Community Centre. Years later, to be closer to home, she accepted a position at Parkridge Community Centre. Velma was an RN in long-term care for 35 years, and she loved every minute of it. She retired from nursing in 2005.

 

Her remaining years were spent watching her 12 grandkids grow, each of whom was her favorite. She loved taking them to the park where she would become young again. She found solitude in Pike Lake, sitting by a roaring fire, watching the sparks mount to heaven. Her and Peter took many trips overseas, visiting family in England and touring other countries. Throughout her life, she loved long walks, reading, listening to 50’s and 60’s music, and dancing. She would often talk about the school dances of her youth and the boyfriends who preceded Peter and being a member on the school basketball team. She loved watching figure skating and game shows. When possible, she also loved gardening and pickling. If you were lucky enough to know her and have her be a part of your life you already know how kind and caring and selfless Velma was. You were always taken care of if you were in her presence and probably squeezed tight until everything was better again.

 

In 2017, Velma was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Peter cared for her, as they’d agreed, until she was transferred to palliative care at Garda Hospice. Seven weeks later, Velma resumed her independence, moving to Warman Special Care and then back to Peter’s care, where the couple lived happily at Prairie Meadows in Rosthern. Her condition degraded again, with a final move to Pineview Manor at the Mennonite Nursing Home. She lived there, alongside her husband, until her death. This year would have marked her 76^th birthday as well as her golden anniversary in May.

 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Velma’s name to the

Mennonite Nursing Home

 Box 370, Rosthern SK S0K 3R0.

 

 

Do not stand at my grave and weep;

I am not there. I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain.

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry;

I am not there.

I did not die.

 

Mary Elizabeth Fry

 

 

 

A Memorial Service will take place at a later date

 in summer 2024.

 

 

Condolences may be left for the family on the tribute wall

by clicking the Tribute Wall button

on this page directly under her picture.

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

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