Marie Rufina Kozloski was born in Blaine Lake, SK. Following her Mother (Mary (nee Nemish)) death in 1926, she was adopted by the Hamel family along with her sister Therese. The Hamels were a farming family and farming thereafter was one of Marie’s heart’s joys.
Marie moved to Winnipeg, MB where she was working for the St. Boniface hospital as a nurse. Marie married Robert A. Phaneuf in 1944. They lived in St Vital, where she raised minks, gardened and looked after her five children while Robert worked at the rail yard.
In 1954 they bought a hotel in Cranberry Portage, MB. While there, Marie gave birth to her sixth child. They sold the hotel in 1958 and moved to St. Boniface
Marie and her family lived in St Boniface for five years, then in 1963 moved to Sunshine Bay near Nelson, BC. There Robert worked on the Kootenay Lake Ferry in Balfour. Marie, in addition to parenting six children, managed cattle, milk cows, goats, chickens, pigs, geese, fruit trees, berry bushes, a large vegetable garden and what she was famous for, a large flower garden. Robert Sr. died in 1977.
Marie moved to VanAnda on Texada Island in 1983.
All of Marie’s life, wherever she lived, she made beautiful flower gardens complete with fish ponds and aviary. Her artistic nature and green thumb showed as she created her showpieces. She cherished her island home where she lived until the last few months of her life. Marie loved her family, faith, friends, garden, animals and art. Marie is survived by her six children, Marianne(Jim)Taylor of Nelson, Robert Phaneuf (jr),of Texada, Rosemarie(Jim)Lee of Parksville, Albert(Bev) Phaneuf of Creston, Lorraine(Mike)Tyler of Vernon, and Paul(Anita)Phaneuf of Courtenay. Marie has sixteen grandchildren, twenty six great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Marie will be sadly missed by all.
A service was held Saturday February 4th at the Kingdom Hall in VanAnda. A celebration of Marie’s life to be held on May 19th near Sunshine Bay.