Hazel Edith Francis (Scarth) Roste

Hazel Edith Francis Roste:                  August 17, 1923 – March 15, 2023

Surrounded by her family, Hazel passed away at Christenson’s Village care home in Gibsons, B.C.

She was born in Preeceville, Saskatchewan to Ralph and Edith Scarth; she had a brother, Gordon, who was two years older.  In her early years the family lived in a forestry settlement in the Porcupine Forest Reserve; her father was a teamster for the game warden there.

Around 1930 the family moved to their homestead in the Endeavour district and began farming.  Hazel and Gordon had a long walk each day to and from Brookview School, a one-room building housing one teacher and over fifty students.  She often told stories of those times and remembered many of the children.  She has for years had an ongoing friendship with one lady from those early school days.  Another brother, Raymond, was born in 1935.

Life was not easy then, especially as people were trying to survive the so-called “Dirty Thirties,”but they made the best of it, gathering at neighbours for social times. Hazel loved to sing while her mother would play the piano. After WWII she left to work in Winnipeg, Flin Flon and Vancouver. She married Lyle Roste, a longtime beau, in 1948 in the North Prairie Lutheran Church. Later they moved to Vancouver for a year before returning to the Preeceville area where they started farming. They had four children: Linda, Sherryl, Caroline and Gary. Lyle farmed during most of the year then did logging in  the winter months. Hazel looked after the farm while Lyle was away.

 In 1970 the family, except for Linda and her husband, moved to Quesnel, B.C. Hazel was always interested in Canadian history, so trips to Barkerville were a pleasure for her. She loved her family, friends, singing, traveling, reading, company, picnics and gardening. Lyle and Hazel always grew a good sized vegetable garden and loved to head out into the country to search for wild berries. They had lots of fishing trips and the occasional hunting experience. As far as cooking, we always said she was the best and could make “something out of nothing.” When company arrived she would often have prepared some of their favorite foods. Children in the neighborhood loved to drop by to see what Auntie Hazel had in the cookie jar or maybe even a fresh batch of donuts.

In his senior years, Lyle became ill with cancer but lived with it for nine years, finally passing away at age 65 in 1989. They had 41 loving years together. Hazel continued to live independently in Quesnel. One highlight was a trip to England where she visited cousins in Yorkshire and the home her mother grew up in near London.  Hazel busied herself with her garden and her grandchildren.  She loved to go out for meals and events with friends and drove her beloved Ford Taurus till she was 92. Hazel was not spared from many health ailments throughout her life but managed to persevere.  Around 2017, age started to catch up with her. That summer she moved in with her daughter in Gibsons for 4 years, but health issues led to residency in seniors’ homes in Sechelt and Gibsons since late 2021.

Hazel was predeceased by husband Lyle, parents Ralph and Edith, brother Gordon and wife Jane and grand-daughter Melanie Dolton. She was also prdeceased by many members of the Tunbridge, Scarth, Roste and Finden families.  Hazel  is survived by her brother Ray (Frankie), her children Linda (Gerald) Dolton, Sherryl (John) Nebocat, Caroline (Ivo) Seni and Gary Roste, grandchildren Brad (Marilyn) Dolton, Wade (Penny) Dolton, Colin and Jasmine Nebocat, Silvie and Lyle Roste, great-grandchildren Sean and Brooke Dolton, Mila Nebocat and Trinity Dolton. She is also survived by sisters-in-law Doris and Sonja Roste, cousin Audrey Calvert, nephews Brian (Sandy) and Dan (Sandra) Scarth and many other relatives.

Many thanks to Dr. Stinson and all the caring people who looked after her in her daughters home and in the care homes; we will not forget your kindness to our dear mom. Her enduring legacy is the love she had for her family. From her place in Heaven we wish her peace, joy and many happy reunions.

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