Dorothy Teresa (Paquette) GUNNLAUGSON

It is with heavy hearts and deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beautiful wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister, Dorothy Teresa Gunnlaugson on September 15, 2018 at the Rosetown and District Health Centre with her family by her side after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Mom was born on November 6th, 1940 in Rosetown to Raymond and Mary (Frerichs) Paquette. She was the eldest of six siblings and was raised on the family farm located 12 miles south of Rosetown. She attended Albermile School which was located 2 1/2 miles from the farm before the family moved to Rosetown and she started to attend the Rosetown Convent. In 1957 Mom met the love of her life, Walter, at the Silver Glen Café. The rest is history. On July 2nd, 1960 she became Dorothy Gunnlaugson when she married our Dad.

The family lived in Outlook, Swift Current, Prince Albert and Saskatoon before they moved to the farm in 1973. Mom worked at Haddock Drug Mart for several years but mostly did what she did best which was staying home looking after her family, tending her award-winning gardens and helping her husband farm the land. In 2002, Mom and Dad retired, sold the farm and moved to their cabin at Diefenbaker Lake.

Mom enjoyed bowling, golfing and her time at her snowbird home in Arizona. She was a member of the Catholic Womens League and was a talented and award-winning painter. Mom was a true crafter and created beautiful things from wreaths to afghans to Christmas decorations for her grandchildren. She enjoyed skunking someone in crib, winning a dart game and catching all the fish with her “Hotlips Houlihan” hook. She was an amazing farmer that could take a load from the combine “on the go” and drive the big 4-wheel drive tractor. She was famous for putting her grandchild to sleep with the sleeperhold and sending them into a fit of laughter with her crazy sayings like “For crying in the bucket” or “Shot out like a 2-by-4”.

Left to cherish her wonderful life, her husband of 58 years, Walter, her daughters, Brenda (Duane), Sandra (Craig), Pam and Shawna (Ray). She was blessed with seven grandchildren: Desmond (Kim), Courtney, Tegan (Nikolai), Kailly (Graham), Ryley, Miranda, and Madisson and her precious great-grandson Luca. Her brothers Ken (Frieda) and Paul (Sharyn) Paquette; sisters Linda (Delmar) Deobald and Judy (Wayne) Moreside; sisters-in-law Debbie Paquette, Edith Ridsdale, and Joan (Vance Booth) Gunnlaugson and brother-in-law Tommy Leakey; as well as many nieces and nephews that have enriched her life. Dorothy was predeceased by her son Trevor Walter, her mother Mary, her father Raymond and brother Rene Paquette; her mother and father-in-law Barney and Viola Gunnlaugson; brothers-in-law Alfred, Leo and Ray Gunnlaugson, Gordon Elliott and Dave Ridsdale; sisters-in-law Haldora Elliott, Ruth Leakey, Thora Gunnlaugson; nephews Barney Leakey and Barney Gunnlaugson.

The family would like to send heartfelt thanks and warm hugs to the nurses that provided gentle and compassionate care to Mom and a kind ear and helpful advice to us.

Vigil of Prayer was held at St. Theresa’s Parish, Rosetown, SK on Tuesday, September 18, 2018 at 8:00 p.m. with Mr. Joseph Jerome and Mr. Michael Leith presiding. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Wednesday, September 19, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. with Reverend Father Kevin McGee as celebrant. Memorial donations may be made to the Alex Ositis Foundation, P.O. Box 1251, Rosetown, SK, S0L 2V0. To send online condolences please visit shanidarfuneralservices.com. Memorial donations may be made to the Alex Ositis Foundation, P.O. Box 1251, Rosetown, SK, S0L 2V0.