Catherine Marie (Zimmer) ROGAL

Catherine Marie Rogal was born on September 30, 1924 to John and Alice Zimmer in the Landis area.  Mom's birth was kind of a miracle as just prior to her birth, the doctor had presumed that she was dead in the womb.  However, Mom surprised the doctor and was born a healthy baby.  She grew up on the farm with her parents along with her brothers, Fritz and John.  She was very close to her Uncle Owen Duggan and Grandma Zimmer who lived with them on the farm.  Mom attended Porter School, Heart Lake School and finished her education at Landis.  Following graduation, she attended Normal School in Saskatoon then began her teaching career.  She taught in numerous country schools which included, Cactus Lake, Denzil, McGee, Biggar Convent among others.   After teaching approximately ten years, she met our dad Joseph Rogal from Handel. They were married in 1953 and resided in the town of Handel, where dad farmed and together, they ran the post office.   Five children were born; Patrick, Joanne, Gerald, Les and Don.  During the time when the children were young, Mom sub-taught at Handel School.  Often students would ask her if she would teach their class as they all loved Mrs. Rogal.   During this time, they took in two foster children Elaine and Noreen. In 1970, Mom and Dad bought the Plenty Hotel. This was their new home, where mom was very busy cleaning and cooking as in hunting season, many a hunter would stay there.  Hotel life was very busy but mom always made time for people making each person she visited with feel like the most important person in the world. 

In 1978, Dad suffered a stroke and they decided to retire and move to Rosetown where they met many new friends.  During this time, Mom took in boarders and Uncle Fritz resided with the family a number of years.  In 1986, Dad passed away and Gerry continued to stay with Mom over the years.  In 2016, Mom moved into Rose Villa Long Term Care where she received care with compassion and love.

Mom lived a full life, she loved her coffee and cigarettes and visiting with neighbors, friends and family - family and friends were her life.  Mom always enjoyed acting and was involved with the Rubber Boot Theatre in Rosetown. She was so proud of all her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, the last one being born October 30th.  Mom was a lifelong member of the CWL, she was a faith-filled woman who lived the gospel and was full of Irish wit and charm.

On November 11, Mom passed away peacefully with family.  We are very grateful to Gerry for all the love and care that he gave her over the years.   

Mom leaves to carry on her legacy Pat (Donna), Gerry, Les (Jamie) and Don; along with grandchildren Myron, Brendan, Julie, Maria, Fabian, Jeryl, Janelle, Rory, Ryan, Jerome, Louis, Joseph and Mathew, 21 great-grandchildren and more on the way and many nieces, nephews and cousins.  She was predeceased by her parents, brothers John and Fritz, husband Joe, daughter Joanne, sisters-in-law Luella Zimmer and Mary Rogal and brothers-in-law Paul, Albert, Jack and Louis Rogal. 

A Private Family Funeral Mass was celebrated at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at St. Theresa's Parish, Rosetown with Reverend Father Habila Musa as celebrant. The Rite of Committal followed at the Handel Cemetery.

In memory of Mom, donations may be made to the Heartland Health Region (Rosetown & District Health Centre Long Term Care), P.O. Box 653, Rosetown, SK, S0L 2V0 or to a charity of choice.