August 8, 1930
– July 3, 2016
Marie-Rose Collin was born on August 8, 1930 in Donnelly, Alberta, to Edouard and Victoria Collin. She was the seventh in a family that would eventually number 18 siblings.
Growing up in such a large family at the height of the Great Depression, Marie-Rose at an early age soon acquired many valuable life skills. These included sewing, knitting, gardening, homemaking and the invaluable lesson which she instilled in all of us – hard work.
After learning school in her early teens, she worked at the hospitals in Spirit River, High Prairie and McLennan.
It was in McLennan, where in 1952, she met her future husband, Almanzor Michaud. They were married on June 4, 1953 in McLennan.
The first couple of years on their homestead south of Rat Lake were difficult and due to the lack of employment in the area at the time, they decided to return to Almanzor’s former home of Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, where work in the copper mines was plentiful. Having settled there, they were able to acquire enough savings to further their dream of farming in the west.
In the fall of 1957, with two young boys in tow, they left Quebec for good and returned to Donnelly. Through tireless hard work and perseverence, they raised a family of four boys and established a modest but successful mixed farming operation.
After raising her family, Marie-Rose returned to the workforce, this time as a cook at the Donnelly Corner Esso Restaurant, for several years.
Upon her retirement in 1985, you could always find her working diligently in her yard. In the winter, she never let Grandpa touch the snowblower, except to start it and fill it with gas.
In the spring and summer, she was either planting trees, mowing grass, watering her tomatoes and cucumbers in the greenhouse or, the “grandkids’ favourite,” growing the best strawberries you’ve ever tasted.
After a brief illness, Marie-Rose passed away on July 3, 2016 at the age of 85. She was predeceased by her son, Jean Michaud in 1987, her parents Edouard and Victoria Collin, as well as eight brothers and five sisters.
She is survived by her husband, Almanzor; her sons, Marcel, Donald and Pierrre (and their spouses, Carole, Colleen and Gail); sisters, Therese, Emilia, Annette, Juliette and Claire; seven grandchildren, Madelaine, Michelle, Marc, Jason, Denis, Diane and Emilie; and 10 great-grandchildren, Kjersten, Kherrington, Eric, Matthieu, Ryan, Nikolas, Jillian, Mia, Kinlee and Bennett.
Grandma, after a long life of tireless worked devoted to your family, you have earned your well-deserved rest.
Rest in peace.
We love you.