Rose Gisela (Hennig) TANSEY

Roswitha (Rose or Gisi) passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 8, 2022 at the age of 84 at the Elrose Health Centre.

Rose was born on September 16, 1938, in Lodz, Poland to Julianna Meier and Arno Hennig. Her younger years were spent in Bartholomä, Germany, where she helped support her family by working in a factory painting pictures on souvenir spoons, a profession which nurtured her lifelong love of painting and drawing. 

In 1958, she immigrated to Canada to be with her brother, Arno Hennig and his family in Kerrobert, SK. She eventually moved to work in Rosetown, where she met her partner in life, Bernard Tansey of Forgan. Rose and Bernard were married in January 1962 and spent their lives farming near Forgan.

Rose worked hard on the farm alongside Bernard, raising children and volunteering in the community. She was a member of the Forgan Good Neighbours Club and the Wiseton Church Choir. An artist at heart, she took many university-level fine arts classes through the University of Saskatchewan’s Continuing Education program. Her paintings and drawings won many ribbons and awards throughout west-central Saskatchewan. When she wasn’t gardening, farming, baking, sewing, knitting, writing, supervising gymnastics, selling Tupperware and Amway, or driving children to extracurricular activities, she was in her studio room, painting.

In 2017, Rose and Bernard retired from the farm to reside in Elrose. They both eventually moved into the Elrose Health Centre, where they have been cared for with much love and respect.

Mom’s love for her family has been the anchor that held us through many hardships, celebrations and revelations. She tirelessly supported all of us and taught us to follow our dreams, and to live with joy, happiness, and integrity. Her spirit will always be with us.

Mom passed away on her father’s birthday, whom she lost to World War II when she was just a child. We hope she is once again in the arms of her dear Papa.

Rose was predeceased by her father Arno, mother Julianna, her special Uncle Erdmund Meier, sister Jutta, brothers Heinz, Herbert and Arno, and grandson Nicolaas Smith.

She is survived by her husband Bernard of Elrose, SK; sister Jurita (Rita) Jablonski of Aalen, Germany, children Allyson Ramsay (Chuck) of Calgary, AB; Leon Tansey (Lenora) of Cochrane, AB; Sheila Tansey (Dean) of Armstrong, BC; Edward Tansey (Martha) of Elrose, SK; Arden Tansey (Lynn) of Kingston, ON; and Darlene Tansey of Toronto, ON; her grandchildren Mitchel and Myah Ramsay, Shayla Tansey, Isaac and Liam Johnson, Tim Tansey, Catharina Pingert (Ronnie), Ryann Tansey, Keegan Tansey; and great grand-daughters Nikki Smith-McLeod and Charlie Pingert. Rose is also survived by many nieces and nephews and their families in various parts of the world.

A memorial service was held at the Elrose United Church on Saturday, November 12, 2022 at 11:00a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Elrose Brick School Preservation Fund by e-transfer at Elrosebrickschool@gmail.com or by cheque to the Town of Elrose - P.O. Box 458, Elrose SK. S0L0Z0 or to the RM of Monet - P.O. Box 370, Elrose SK. S0L0Z0 with “Brick school” in the memo.