Obituary of DARTNELL – Roma

DARTNELL – Roma On Monday, September 13, 2010, Roma Florence Greta Bernice Dartnell, formerly of Edmonton and later of Calgary, went home peacefully at the age of 93, after a truly remarkable life. She was predeceased by her husband Lorne and is survived by her daughter Nancy Olsen (and son-in-law Bill, both now of Saskatoon), her son Doug Dartnell (and daughter-in-law Lee Bibby, both now of Calgary), her granddaughters Jana and Kathryn Dartnell (both of Calgary) and her grandson James Olsen (of Saskatoon). Roma was born in Wynyard, Saskatchewan, on March 2, 1917, the only child of Thomas and Mabel Vause (nee Dobbs). One year later the family moved to the neighbouring town of Kandahar, Saskatchewan, where Roma attended public school from 1924 to 1930. 1931 saw the family move to Saskatoon where Roma attended City Park Collegiate until 1935, and thereafter City Park Business College until 1936, when she graduated as a legal stenographer. Following her schooling, Roma had the honour of working in Saskatoon for four years with Emmett Hall (and often with John Diefenbaker when he visited from his law office in Prince Albert) at Hall & Maguire and later at C. M. Brewster & Co., until becoming a placement officer with National Employment Service. After the war, Roma moved to Winnipeg where she was employed as a secretary by the RCMP. She met Lorne at a church picnic and they married in 1951. Roma and Lorne moved around northern Canada for a few years (including Peace River) and eventually settled in Edmonton where Nancy and Doug were born. Always ambitious, Roma worked as a school secretary at Jasper Place Composite High School in Edmonton for a few years in the 1960’s and then returned to school at the University of Alberta as a full and part time mature student, obtaining a teaching certificate in 1972 and later a Bachelor of Education in 1976. During this time and beyond, she maintained a family and was employed by the Edmonton Public School Board as an elementary school teacher, usually Grade 2 (and sometimes Grade 3), but always at Parkview School in Edmonton. Struck by serious illness in 1981, Roma retired from Parkview School. She defied all odds and recovered four years later and thereafter from time to time continued to tutor many children who were fortunate to have known her. Next to her family, her greatest love was her teaching. Roma treated each of her students as an individual and encouraged them to follow their special strengths. In 1999, to be closer to her family, Roma moved to Calgary where she lived until her death. Special thanks to the staff and friends at Chinook Care Centre in Calgary, including Dr. Palencia, who cared for her since 2008. A celebration of this remarkable life will be begin at Trinity United Church, (8810 Meadowlark Road N.W., Edmonton) on Saturday, September 25, 2010 at 2:00 pm. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com, or by mail to McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Park Memorial Chapel, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W., Calgary, AB T2S 2L5