Our beloved Mother passed away peacefully in her sleep at the remarkable age of 98 years.  Maoni was born in Grassy Lake Alberta and grew up on the family farm of her parents Thomas and Jemima Hopkins, along with her siblings Rex, Tom, Jack and Margaret.  We hold dear the stories of Mom’s years on the farm.  Wild roses were in abundance and the nickname of “Rosebud” was bestowed on Mom by her father, later shortened to “Bud” by her brothers and sisters.  To this day, most of Mom’s nephews and nieces call her “Auntie Bud”. Mom obtained her teaching certificate at Normal School in Calgary.  It was during her second year of teaching at a one-room schoolhouse in Alston Alberta that Mom met Flying Officer Gordon Moss, who was stationed nearby at R.C.A.F Station Vulcan.  His courting of Mom included landing his plane in the Vulcan schoolyard to impress the young teacher.  Maoni and Gordon married on July 10, 1943 and went on to live 62 happy years together. They spent two years traveling across Canada from PEI to Vancouver Island for Dad’s various air force postings as a flight instructor during World War II.  Post-war they moved to Saskatoon so Dad could attend University.  Dad’s career took them to Calgary and then to Winnipeg.  Retirement years in Red Deer allowed them to spend more time at the cottage near Sylvan Lake and to take several trips throughout Western Canada in Dad’s small plane, as well as to spend several winters in the warmth of Arizona.

 

The focus of Maoni’s married life was her family (including her numerous nieces and nephews), homemaking and art.  She was an exceptional seamstress, sewing most of her own clothes and many of those of her children and grandchildren.  She pursued her interest in art when, in her forties, she took art classes at SAIT (the “Tech”) and several of her paintings adorned both her Calgary and Red Deer homes.  She was also versed in the lost art of letter writing, with impeccable penmanship even into her nineties. Maoni was a gracious hostess and enjoyed setting a beautiful table for family and friends. Her oatcakes and saskatoon pies were legendary.  She could always be looked to for a steady hand as well as for gentle but wise advice, usually in conversation over a cup of tea.  Her generosity knew no bounds.

 

Maoni is survived by her children Marilyn, Betty (John) and Don (Louise), as well as 6 grandchildren (Bonnie, Laura, Sarah, Karen, Andrew and Grant), 7 great grandchildren (Kristen, Brooklyn, Emerson, Jack, Nolan, Blake, and Kennedy), her brother Jack, her sister Margaret, and her numerous nephews, nieces, great nephews and great nieces.    She was predeceased by her husband Gordon and her daughter Judy, both of whom she was so deeply devoted to.

 

The family wishes to thank everyone at Maple Cottage in Red Deer for their exceptional care of Maoni over the past year.

 

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday March 5^th at the Black Knight Inn, 2929 – 50^th Avenue, Red Deer Alberta in the Mainstage Room.

 

If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made directly to C.A.R.S. (Central Alberta Residence Society) #130 – 2810 Bremner Avenue, Red Deer Alberta, T4R 1M9, carsrd.org

• Date : 2020-02-06
• Location : Eventide Funeral Home