Roseanne Edith Keyes

August 7, 1935 - December 5, 2023

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Roseanne (Roz) Edith Keyes on 5 December 2023 at Victoria General Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Roz was born in Calgary, Alberta on 7 August 1935 to Jennie Keyes (nee Seeman) and Bill Keyes.

She was predeceased by her grandparents Louis and Rosie Seeman (nee Bauer), her parents, sister Miriam (Mim) Koven, brother Bill Keyes and nephew Michael Monk.  

Roz will be remembered by her remaining family: sister Lee Gaylene (nee Shirley Keyes); nieces Shannon Monk, Kerry Monk, Josephine Bergh (Jim) and Laurie Monk and Malca Casiro (Oscar); nephews Kevin Monk, Brian Koven, Carey Koven, Joel Koven, and Bill Keyes; sister-in-law Dale Keyes; and her numerous great- and great-great nieces and nephews.  

Roz's life was enriched by the love and support of her life-long friends including Bob, David, Annie, Leslie, Ted and Joanne, Sue, Linda and Olie and Shirl – pals since they were young girls, and the many, many friends she made throughout her life. 

Although born in Calgary, Roz was a life-long Winnipegger.  She grew up in Fort Rouge and lived for many years in River Heights, then St James, and finally Tuxedo.  Roseanne was a long-time resident of Woodhaven and spent many happy years there being a part of the community. One of her biggest joys was serving hot chocolate at the Woodhaven community centre to those coming in for a warm-up after sliding down the hill.   

 Thank you to the Director and all the amazing staff at Portsmouth Retirement Residence where Roz lived for several years.  She enjoyed the social interactions that community living provided, and she was always accompanied by her latest canine companion.  Roz's love for dogs was a huge and integral part of her life and personality.  We all fondly remember Rondeau, followed by Juneau, her beloved Gabby and so many, many more; ending with Sam, who also mourns the passing of his dear friend.   

 Thank you to the staff at the Winnipeg Victoria General Hospital for their kind care in Roz's last days.   

Roseanne had a passion for education and a love for words and language that inspired her long career as a high school teacher and vice-principal.  That love of words also ignited her desire to share her many life stories, and, in 2002 we were all thrilled when Roz became a published author with the release of A Place On The Totem Pole - an anthology of her life told with humour and heart. Roz loved to read her stories aloud, and, if you were lucky enough to be the recipient of her story-telling, you felt the special bond that comes with sharing our private thoughts and experiences.

 We've all been so privileged to both laugh and cry with Roz. And to sing with her as Roz was also an opera singer and performer.  We will always remember her as one of the Weird sisters in Macbeth!  Roz was intuitive, a mystic, a healer, creative, and artistic. We were all enriched in knowing her. 

Goodbye dear sister, aunty and friend.  You will be missed.

Branch & Pyre Cremation Care