Rose Merle Hibbs

Langley - Rose Muriel Lucy Hibbs (Delarue), age 94, died peacefully April, 21, 2018, at Langley Memorial Hospital (Residential Services). Rose is survived by five children; Rick, Max, Dave, Steve Hibbs, and Aleta Cooper, of Langley, British Columbia.

Rose was a veteran of the Second World War, where she served in the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1941 to 1945. Rose married the late Edward James Hibbs who was also a veteran of the Canadian Air Force. The family lived in Montreal, Vancouver Island, North Vancouver, and eventually settled in West Langley. She served various church and veteran communities from the 1960s to the late 1990s. She cherished the Veteran Women’s choir and was a passionate singer of songs from the depression and big band eras.

Rose was born at her home in Wawota, Saskatchewan, January 16, 1924; daughter of Richard and Helene Delarue. Rose had a strict upbringing but grew up in a loving household; the eldest of five; four sisters, Joyce, Irene, Aleta, Marlene and a younger brother, Ronald. She is survived by her sister, Mrs. Marlene Easton of Regina, Saskatchewan. She was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, foster mother, caring grandmother, businesswomen, artist, and a proud patriot.

We were blessed to learn many valuable lessons from Rose, lessons learned from a way of life which had evolved from the harsh environment of the Canadian Prairies, among them: strong family and Christian values where helping others was central plus a love for the farming life and nature. Rose and her family were second generation immigrants from Belgium and France who had come to Canada to work as farmers. Rose had left high school to work on the farm and would eventually join the Canadian Air Force in 1941, taking after her father who had fought in France in World War One. Rose’s family was an extended one and included traditions developed from a dynamic network of high-spirited people of French Canadian heritage. Rose painted several scenes depicting the Canadian Prairies and the farming and village communities after French master Paul Cezanne, her favourite artist. Another achievement was travelling to China on a Canadian trade mission with her husband Edward where she later built up a small family business, designing silk-flower arrangements and selling exotic Chinese imports in the 1970s and 80s. She was an avid baseball fan and thoroughly enjoyed watching the World Series every year. Her Christmas dinners and her home-baked bread were legendary; “To know Rose was to love her” said a close friend, she was always thinking of others and helping those in need and possessed a social awareness of the world, values reflected in her love for her family. Proud of all 7 grandchildren, and five great grandchildren with one more arriving any day, she will be dearly missed by her family and friends.

Her wonderful spirit, joy, and talents will be celebrated at St Joseph’s Church Langley on Friday, April 27 at 11:00 am. Family and friends are welcome to a gathering of refreshments immediately after service.