Darlene McMaster

Obituary

Passed on February 15, 2023

August 16, 1944 – February 15, 2023

Our Mom has taught us that the most important thing in life is family. But not just the family that we are born into, but also the family that we invite into our lives. Our Mom, Darlene McMaster, peacefully passed away on February 15th surrounded by those she loved, her family.

Darlene was raised on a farm near Bowsman Manitoba, where she was surrounded many Aunts, Uncles and cousins. In fact, how many people can say that their best friends were also their cousins. Darlene’s first cousin Clifford, affectionately called her Sam, much to her dismay. In fact, it took a lot of doing to convince her new friends in high school that her name was actually Darlene.

In the spring of 1963 Darlene met the love of her life. It was thanks to her cousin Clifford, that Darlene met Wayne McMaster. Clifford set up Wayne and Darlene on a blind date, that started a 57-year romance. When Darlene and Wayne were getting to know each other through letters, Darlene asked Wayne to send her a picture of himself. To Darlene’s surprise, Wayne sent her a picture of himself – in his boat – about 50 meters away. Dad’s excuse is that the telephoto lens was not invented yet.

On September 4, 1965, Darlene and Wayne were married. They ran a boarding house so Darlene could do what mattered the most to her; raise her children. Mom and Dad shared not only their house, but also their hearts, with the many young people who lived with them. In fact, they kept in contact with Maw, a young man from Malaysia who boarded with them over 54 years ago. Through the years, the boarders who rented rooms, became cousins who moved into Winnipeg to go to school. As Darlene and Wayne’s family grew, and her cousins’ found places of their own, Mom and Dad’s house was still their meeting place. Our Mom had an uncanny sense of when to bake. Often Mom would just be pulling out a freshly baked cake from the oven, and in would walk her cousins. The coffee was put on, and the laughter and stories would start to flow. As children, we all loved lying in bed at night, listening to the laughter and stories taking place around our kitchen table.

As we grew into teenagers, our friends affectionately called Darlene their second Mom. If you were a friend of one of her children, she adopted you and you became the newest member of the McMaster family.

Tom and Paul love to share stories of how they were instantly apart of the McMaster family. Darlene was so excited when her children, Jana (Paul) Krowiak, Jolie (Tom) Tonner and Jeremy McMaster promoted her to Grandmother status with the birth of Kurtis (Krowiak), Shayla (Krowiak), Cade (Tonner), Ryler (Tonner), Kalennah (Tonner), Erika (McMaster), Karah (McMaster), and Isabella (McMaster). Being called Grandma was Darlene’s favourite title. As a family, we often laugh that Darlene loved her children, but she adored her grandchildren!

Once Darlene and Wayne retired, they grew their snowbird wings and began to spend winters in the south. It was in the retirement parks where they lived during the winter months. They made new friends, who became their family in the south. Together, they hiked, toured, went to flea markets and dentist appointments in Mexico. Darlene’s competitive spirit helped to crown her, Queen of the Shuffleboard. Darlene and Wayne loved their time in the south so much at they invited the friends and family from the North to join their new family in the South. Darlene and Wayne introduced them to all their new friends and taught them all the joys of southern living. Over the years, Wayne and Darlene travelled from Alaska to Newfoundland and everywhere in between, with their chosen family of friends.

Our Mom’s faith was an integral part of who she was. As a young girl, her Grandma Ferriss helped instill in her, a faith in God that has supported her throughout her life. It was friendships found through church, bible study groups, and care groups in Canada and the US, who became our Mom’s Faith family. Mom was often found volunteering at Take A Break in the nursery, (she even volunteered our Dad to help when more people were needed), as well as enjoying evenings with the seniors groups, and weekly Care Group get-togethers. Our mom never worried about what would happen after her time her on Earth was done. She knew the best was yet to come.

“I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.” – Psalms 16:8

Darlene is survived by her husband, Wayne McMaster, children Jana (Paul) Krowiak, Jolie (Tom) Tonner, Jeremy McMaster, grandchildren Kurtis, Shayla (Patrick), Cade (Ainsley), Ryler, Kalennah, Erika, Karrah, and Isabella, brothers, Bryan (Donna) Ferriss, Blake Ferriss, brother-in-laws Jim (Helen) McMaster, Ken (Carol) McMaster and Keith (Rhonda) McMaster, and many nieces and nephews. Darlene was also blessed to have been survived by many great friends both here in Canada and in the United States, who cannot be named for fear of missing someone. Waiting to welcome her in Heaven are her parents, Gordon and Pauline Ferriss, In-laws, John and Lucille McMaster and sister and brother-in-laws Bev and Bill Barnstable. We would like to thank Dr. Olayemi and all the kind and caring staff at Stonewall Hospital, who not only took care of our Mom, but also our family during this difficult time. Words cannot truly express the gratitude in our hearts.

A celebration of her life will be held on Monday, February 20th, 2023 at 1:00 pm at the New Life Baptist Church in Stonewall Manitoba.

Livestream Link

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