Education was a large window of opportunity to Regena whose education from a one room school house led to Saskatoon where she worked for room and board and finished Grade 12. Her first job as Switchboard Operator led her to British Columbia and Alberta in the telephone service.
Losing a husband in the navy, getting cancer and raising one son did not slow her down. She accomplished all of her jobs helping people from Victoria to Ontario.
Arranging flowers for young couples in love, cutting and styling hair while listening to problems, and giving advice. If a small apartment or house needed improvement Regena would fix and paint often asking for advice from men at lumber yards in her scruffy overalls.
She fulfilled a dream to learn fashion design and walk the run way wearing her own designs. She knitted and mended clothes for payment but often for free because the person was poor.
Arriving in Nelson and living on her pension, she moved into the Villa Apartments managed by Kiwanis. Soon she was a volunteer secretary helping business aspects of the 3 Kiwanis Villas.
Her body could not keep up with her active mind and needed extra care from wonderful staff at Mountain Lakes Senior Care in Nelson. Adapting to another change in her life she reached out to her fellow patients and encouraged the staff around her.
Keep telling the amazing stories about our loved ones. They may be out of our sight but never out of our minds and hearts.
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