Obituary of Mossie Hancock

The heavenly choir will be singing as never before, because Mossie Hancock entered the Celestial Concert Hall on January 15, and she'll be expecting to hear great music! Mossie Ida (McCrae) Hancock was born Sept. 14, 1915 in Mervin, SK. near Lloydminster, where she moved as a child and took most of her schooling. She began her piano studies early, achieving her Licentiate, Royal Schools of Music (LRSM) and Licentiate, Trinity College, London (LTCL). She enjoyed a significant career as a soloist and duo-pianist with her husband of more than 30 years, Gordon Hancock; their many performances included Mozart's Concerto in E Flat with the Regina Symphony Orchestra. She also taught piano and theory for more than 30 years, including 13 years at the University of Regina Conservatory of Music. Mossie had a long and illustrious association with the Saskatchewan Music Festival Association as a performer and teacher. She was the first adjudicator, and the first woman, to adjudicate at music festivals in all ten provinces. She and Gordon were co-hosts from 1959-1974 for the classic music appreciation programs As We Like It, and The Music of Man on CKCK radio, Regina. Mossie reviewed music, opera, ballet, theatre and literature for 14 years on CBC Radio (Saskatchewan, National, and International services). She was also an actress on radio, in film, and on stage, receiving a Best Actress award from the Dominion Drama Festival. As a writer, she created comedy sketches for CBC, wrote award-winning stage plays, and documentaries for the Saskatchewan Department of Education, including Faces and Places of South America, for which she and Gordon also took all the photographs. She also wrote for the Canada Music Book and Musicanada. Her most memorable writing project was the commissioned history of the Saskatchewan Music Festival Association, Music for One: Music for All, published in 1989. Mossie's many honours included an award from the Province of Saskatchewan for her significant contributions to Canada and the world beyond, Honorary Life Memberships from the Canadian Federation of Music Festivals and the Saskatchewan Music Festival Association, and a Founder's Award from the Saskatchewan Writers' Guild. Mossie was predeceased by her parents, Dr. and Mrs. T. McCrae, her husband Gordon, and her sister, Carol Jean Colson. She is survived by her nieces and nephews, and special friends Lyn Goldman, Lynn & Bud Kirk, Doris & Morris Lazecki, Jack Partridge, John Davies, and Jean Freeman. Sincere thanks are extended to everyone at Sunset Extendicare who cared so faithfully for Mossie during her years of residence. A celebration of Mossie's life will be held in the spring. Flowers are gratefully declined - instead, please make a donation to an arts organization of your choice, or to the Regina Humane Society. An online book of condolences may be signed at www.speersfuneralchapel.com