Mona Jean Peel was born in Carragana, Sask. on May 23, 1930, the youngest daughter of Catherine and Capt. Alfred Batchelor. She passed away on December 8, 2007 at Grande Prairie following a heroic battle with cancer.
Mona was predeceased by her parents and her sisters Barbara Richardson, Catherine Denman and Mary Batchelor; an infant son; brothers-in-law Brian Peel, Tommy Richardson and Lorne Gehman.
She leaves to mourn; her loving husband of 58 years Bob, their children and families; Lionel (Dianne) Peel children Angela and Michael of Calgary, Rod (Karen) Peel of Duncan, B.C., children John and Jill, Susan (Ben) Karpisek of Grande Prairie children Josh (Karlie) Thompson, Lydia, Sophia Thompson, Lyle Karpisek, Tracy Karpisek (Dan) Jayden, Darcy (Shelley) Peel of Williams Lake children Chelsea and Danica. Brother Ken (Rose) Batchelor of Manning, Ab. Sisters-in-law Iris Gehman of Chilliwack, B.C., Bev Peel of GrandForks, B.C. and many neices and nephews.
Mona was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. Growing up Mona’s family moved often from Saskatchewan to Alberta to B.C. She
had fond memories of her childhood, her father was a proud soldier of the
First World War, a wonderful storyteller and her mother a great homemaker who sang, danced and played games with her children. Mona admired her older sisters and her brother Ken was the family tease. As the youngest of the family she proudly became her father’s helper as he had lost one arm in the war and had a hook. It was a happy household that she grew up in. In her teens she was shy and followed the lead of her sister Catherine. They had great friendships and memories from riding horseback to school in Alex and Red Deer.
At 18 on June 26, 1948 Mona met Bob rollerskating at Cultus Lake, B.C., they were married on February 27, 1949. After a wedding day brunch they left on the train for Calgary with $14 to their name. At various farms and ranches in southern Alberta Bob worked as a farm hand and Mona as a housekeeper before settling in Calgary.
Mona worked at People’s Credit Jewelers for $25/wk and Bob worked at Union Packers for $40/wk. In 1952 after saving $1,000 they bought their first house where they grew their first garden together on the 1 acre lot.
Lionel was born in Calgary of that year. In 1955 they moved back to Chilliwack and Bob went logging. Rod was born in 1955 and Susan in 1958. In 1961 they moved to Keg River to farm. Darcy was born in 1965. In 1967 they moved to the farm at Grimshaw. From 1968-1983 while still maintaining both farms in northern Alberta they returned to Chilliwack and Rosedale, B.C. In 1984 they retired to the Grimshaw farm. Retirement for Mona and Bob would just be the start of a whole new adventure of travel, hiking, biking, skiing, quilting, lapidary and gardening. Their travels included Great Britian, Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, the U.S. and Canada.
During her life she attended a garden party with the Queen, watched Darcy row in the Henley Regatta, took up down hill and cross country skiing after the age of 45, hiked the West Coast Trail, biked from Jasper to Banff. In her sixties she biked the MacKenzie Hwy from Grimshaw to the NWT with Bob driving her support vehicle. Together her and Bob completed every notable hiking trail in the Canadian Rockies as well as many in Arizona, Nevada, Australia and the Routeburn trail in New Zealand. She was an accomplished seamstress and tailor and in retirement took up quilting. When Bob became
a silversmith Mona began lapidary work. With their unique jewellery Mona and Bob were sought after exhibitors for all the local craft markets from Grande Prairie to High Level and Beaverlodge to Prairie Echo. Mona enjoyed photography and always kept a daily diary. Mona always said, ‘if a job was worth doing, it was worth doing well’.
She finished what she started, was extremely self disciplined, out spoken and caring, an adventurer, a dare devil, strong but humble. She had an undying faith and trust in Bob and all that they did together. She faced her cancer and death with courage, dignity, determination and without regrets.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Alberta Cancer Board, the Grande Prairie Farmers Market or a charity of one’s choice.
Funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 22, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. from Oliver’s Grande Prairie Funeral Chapel (10005 – 107 Ave).
Oliver’s Grande Prairie Funeral
Chapel & Crematorium
10005-107 Avenue
Grande Prairie, Alberta
T8V 1L8 (780) 532-2929
“Dedicated Service Since 1915”.