Reine Roy, age 92 years, resident of P.R. Cook Apartments (St Joseph’s Heritage), passed away peacefully Sunday April 13, 2025.
Reine was born on June 14, 1932 in Elie, Manitoba where she was raised until moving to Red Rock when she was 14. She was enthralled by the mountains, trees and the lake. Having only experienced the flat prairies she thought the lake was an ocean. She thought Red Rock was heaven on earth.
Reine was the eldest of 8 children and like a second mother to all of them. Reine’s first job was at the Red Rock Inn as a waitress in the restaurant. When we celebrated her 90th birthday there, she pointed out to everyone where she had been electrocuted in the kitchen!
When Reine got married she focused on raising her family. She showed her love for her family through cooking, baking, and sewing clothes for her children. All meals and foods were made from scratch and you would often smell homemade bread throughout the house.
Christmas baking started shortly after her children started school in the fall. She and her best friend and next door neighbour Anne, would bake and prepare special meals together for the Christmas holidays. By the time Christmas arrived, the freezer was stuffed with cabbage rolls, perogies, meat pies, doughnuts, butter tarts, and other fancy desserts.
As President of the CWL she often hosted teas and Missionaries when they came to town.
When her third son was disappointed that he couldn’t go to Cub Scouts like his older brothers, because there was nobody willing to be the Cub Scout Leader, Reine became the first female Cub Scout Leader in Canada in the early 1960’s.
Once her children were all in school, she held various jobs including Cashier Supervisor and Bank Teller. She volunteered helping clients of the CNIB and serving lunches at The 55 Plus Centre. In later years she crocheted and donated blankets and teddy bears for children who were in the hospital.
Reine was very social, loved meeting new people and many people will remember her for her giggle and positive attitude. One of her favourite pastimes was meeting with her sister Tootsie, niece Pam and daughter Venice at the closest Tim Horton’s coffee shop.
Reine would drop everything to be a support for others. She lived life to the fullest and despite having broken her hip in late January, she was dancing just days before she passed. She also won the jackpot at the bingo game in her building the next evening.
Reine is survived by sons, Bryan(Brenda), David, Harry Jr (Marie)and daughters Venice (Trystan), and Brenda. She had numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and even a great great grandchild. She was especially close to her granddaughter Jessica who she called her Sunshine. Reine is also survived by siblings Carole, Marlene, Shirley, brother Lindsay and numerous nieces and nephews, many who thought of her as their second mother.
Reine was predeceased by her parents Annette and Alfred Roy, and siblings Bernice, Ronald and June.
Cremation has taken place and a celebration of life will be held at a later date when family can all gather from across the country.
Condolences may be made through www.nwfainc.com
