Beatrice (Bea) Foley

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our dear Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Aunt and Sister, Beatrice Wilhelmina Foley (nee Remus) daughter of Fred and Agnes (nee Russell) Remus, deceased. Beatrice, known to everyone as Beats or Beatsie was born July 9, 1935 at home on the farm, a mile west of Marchwell, Saskatchewan. She was baptised and confirmed into the Christian faith at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Marchwell and remained faithful to her church. She grew up as a happy child playing with her 5 siblings, Harold, Alfred, Louisa, Karen and Joyce. She attended school at the Marchwell public school to grade 8. From all reports she excelled in her studies as well as sports, her favourite being softball and taking part in the races on Sports Days. After completing her schooling, she helped her mother with her two younger sisters. She worked as a hired girl for neighbours as well and helped with their children during harvest time. In her late teens she moved to Brandon, Manitoba where she worked in a restaurant. While there, she met a young soldier, Private Gunner Ross Foley, from nearby Camp Shilo, who had recently returned from the Korean conflict. They were married in October 1952. They lived in Camp Shilo until Ross's discharge from the Army. While husband Ross worked on the Railroad, Beatrice was at home on their small farm in Harrowby, Manitoba working the fields, planting a huge garden, and caring for 4 young children, their youngest being only a few months old. Over the years the family moved often, following jobs for Ross in small towns in Manitoba, whose final job was at the Potash mine in Esterhazy. Settling first in Marchwell, renting the residence at the CPR Station there and then moving in to Langenburg to their first new house in 1968. From 1976 to 1989 Beatrice was a favourite school bus driver for the Langenburg students. Over the years the family grew to nine children: Patrick, Ronald, Clayton, Nancy, Morley, Loreen, Shaun, Cory, and Megan. She is also held in memory by Cory’s daughters Ashley and Chelsea.

 Her love of sports stayed with her throughout her life. She was known to take her granddaughters on bus trips to see the Blue Jays play in Seattle, Washington and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Beats loved to go to the Casino and was an avid Bingo player. She was usually very lucky and enjoyed herself immensely. Beats, Ross, and other family members spent many happy summers camping and fishing at Rocky Lake, Manitoba. She helped with the cooking and cleaning at the camp as well. Beats was a person of strong character, she was honourable and trustworthy, she loved her family beyond and over the moon. She had a special place in her heart for her extended family and was interested in family history. She was an extremely hard worker; planting a garden until few years ago when her mobility became an issue then it was planting flowers for the hummingbirds.

 Beatrice is predeceased by her husband Ross (2002) also his parents, 6 brothers and 4 sisters. She also mourned the loss of 4 sons, Patrick, Morley, Shaun and Cory, her parents, Fred and Agnes Remus, her brothers, Harold and Alfred Remus and sister Louisa Sheridan and brother-in-law John Sheridan.

Her remaining family live to celebrate her life and keep her in memory. She is survived by son Ron and Patricia (Klink) and children Jason, Arlinda (Gregson) and Jolene Pow (Troy) and 6 great-grandchildren, son Clayton; daughter Nancy and partner Andy Vallencourt and grandchildren Billie Jo and partner Zack Kolodniske, Bobbi Jean Martinson (Jason) and 3 great-grandchildren and Tara and one great grandchild, daughter Loreen Rutherford (David) and grandchildren Trevor and Michelle Fuhr (Shawn) with 3 great-grandchildren; daughter Megan Kowalchuk (Darcy) and grandchildren Cassandra and Amy. She is also survived by her sisters Karen Nerbas (Vern) and Joyce Persicke (Keith) with their families and sister-in-law Mary Remus (Harold) will forever hold her in their hearts. She will be remembered and missed by her extended families of many nieces and nephews and cousins as well as numerous friends of the community.

Beatrice Shares her Love.

Do not stand by my grave and weep for me. I am not here. If you have heard the soft sigh of the spring breeze that was me, for I have not gone away. I am only sleeping. If you have heard the laughter of a child, did you look for me? For I live in the faces of the children. If the sparkle of the moonlight on the water caught your eye, that was me reminding you of the light inside each of you to remember the beautiful times of laughter and love. I will never die as long as you remember me.