Martha M. Roos

Martha was born December 12, 1928 in Grenola Kansas, the eldest of 18 children. Her family worked their way back and forth across the US, following the cotton & fruit crops. As the eldest Martha took on a great deal of the responsibility for her younger brothers and sisters. In 1954 she left home to attend a missionary training school in Los Angeles where she met her husband to be John Roos, a nice Canadian boy. They married January 1, 1955 and were preparing for their mission assignment to Australia when John became ill. He was not expected to live and the young couple was advised to return to Canada where John's family was located and where health care was readily available.

Martha began to establish her life in Canada and had two children; Martha Evelyn Roos (December 27, 1955) and John William Roos (November 16, 1957) John's condition grew gradually worse and by the time the children had grown to teens he was placed in a long term care facility where he spent the rest of his life. Martha would be an active part of his care until his death and would walk every day to "The Mount" to feed John his dinner, be sure he was properly shaved, and be certain he was spending time in a wheelchair and out of bed and many other personal services. Martha's children are both graduates of Covenant Bible College and were active members of their local Covenant church or other church body as dictated by circumstance. Martha learned to drive later in life and was quite the adventurer, not hesitating to hop in her car and head of to Calgary to see her grandchildren, often in spite of the weather. She was proud of her Cherokee heritage as a member of the family of Nancy Ward and kept her certificate on her wall for any to see.

Martha began attending the Nelson Evangelical Covenant church in 1955 and continued as an active member of that church until she moved to Calgary where she joined and was active with the Kensington Road Covenant Church which was her home church until the time of her death. Martha was predeceased by her parents, her husband and several of her siblings. She took great pride in her children, her six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She welcomed spouses, step children and other people's babies into her life and heart. She was a tireless prayer warrior and spent hours every day in scripture reading and prayer. Martha has been instrumental in the raising of 4 generations starting with her siblings and ending with her great grandchildren. Her family was her world and she will be sorely missed by all of us. Her passing was peaceful and she was certain of her salvation and the welcome she would receive when she left us. She often expressed awe that she had reached the age of 87 and had seen her great-grandchildren. When asked how she was doing by her medical team her reply was always the same: "My life has been in the Lord's hands for this long; why should it change now." That philosophy strengthened and comforted her and the last words she ever spoke were to tell someone she loved them.

We celebrate a life well lived and filled with love and memories, some good and some bad. Her life was never easy but it was always filled with hope and assurance. Everyone who heard her tried to guess where she had been born. We will miss her, we will miss her terribly but know that it is only for a little while and we will join her in her new home.

Please join us as we celebrate the life of Martha Roos who was welcomed into the arms of her precious Saviour after a long term struggle with Kidney Disease.

Memorial Service will be held:

Wednesday July 27 at 2:00 P.M.

Kensington Commons Church

2404 Kensington Road N.W., Calgary, AB

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the hospice program of your choice. The care and compassion given to Martha by the Agape Hospice was incredible and she knew that she was being cared for by people to whom this is not just a job. Messages of remembrance may be left for the family at www.southcalgaryfuneralcentre.ca