Ozan was born in Wanham, Alberta on August 21, 1921, the youngest of eight siblings. Following graduation from Normal School in 1940, she began her teaching career in a small one-room country school just outside of Wanham teaching Grades 1 through 9 earning approximately $60.00 per month.
She met her husband Jim (Mac) when he came through town working on the Laciter Project creating homesteads for Veterans following the end of the War. Following their marriage, they settled in Wanham, buying approximately 600 acres of land to farm and raise their family. Jim continued working with heavy equipment and Ozan kept teaching school, but eventually they found that between raising three children, running the farm, working to support the farm and coping with continuous crop loss, that it was time to move on. So in 1966 they traveled throughout BC looking for a spot to relocate to. Their travels took them to Chilliwack in the month of May and they were astounded to see all the blooming flowers, tulips, daffodils, flowering cherries, and azaleas. Wanham certainly never looked like this and they decided right then and there that this was the town for them. So Ozan, Jim, Dennis, Jacque and Pat moved to Rosedale. Ozan took up teaching again, taking positions at Watson, Rosedale and Bernard Elementary Schools, relishing teaching her little ones, taking them for nature hikes, camping trips and preparing many, many plays for them to perform. She loved to teach and even after retirement it was a great joy to her to help her grandkids and the neighbourhood kids with their homework and projects.
Just as Ozan had been instrumental in putting on plays for the various concerts at school, she was the one everyone turned to to create a lively, usually slapstick skit for their many get-togethers, or for the Catholic Woman’s League and the Knights of Columbus.
Ozan caught the traveling bug during her teaching years, and during summer holidays was always on a trip somewhere. If it wasn’t Africa, it was China, or Mexico or Europe. She, her sisters or her friends accompanied her on these trips, which continued well into her retirement years.
Following retirement, Ozan, took up the game of golf with her friends Jeannete Rollheiser and Florence Cross. She was never good at it (tho’ she thought she was) but she loved it and was disappointed when in her early 80’s she was not able to continue playing the game.
Ozan, who was actively involved in the Catholic Woman’s League for over 60 years, then became a volunteer at Mother Theresa’s Thrift Shop, spending many a day sorting through donations, setting up displays in the store and becoming very excited about the gems that she would come across for her new little great-grandson, Axel.
Ozan loved to knit and every grandchild was the recipient of her many sweaters. As she became ill, she began knitting scarfs and toques – and if everyone she came in contact with doesn’t have one that she made we would be very surprised.
Ozan lived a full and happy life and was loved and respected by all who knew her. She was predeceased by her husband Jim, her brothers Ed, Octave and Leo and her sisters, Yvonne, Camille and Cecille. She is survived by her sister Gay, many, many nieces and nephews, her son Dennis (Chris), her daughter Jacque (Dennis), her son Patrick (Lisa), her grandchildren, Sean, Kelsey, Wiley, Toby, Seth, Brooke and Katie, and her great-grandson, Axel, as well as many, many friends, including Clara who was one of her best friend for over 80 years. Thank you as well to Rita for being such a close and caring friend to Ozan for the last 40 years. The last two years were especially hard on her as she began to decline and your continued support and companionship was a blessing to her.
The Prayers are to be held on Thursday, August 13th at 7 pm and the Funeral on Friday, August 14th at 11:00 am with Father Paul officiating, with tea to follow at St. Mary’s Hall.
No Flowers by request - Donations to charity of choice if desired.