Obituary of Rita Jolly-Mayes
"Please click here to view the livestream of the service."
It is with profound sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Rita Jolly-Mayes, late of Regina, SK on Sunday, January 22, 2023 at the age of 80 years. She is survived by her son Gary (Jackie) Jolly of Edmonton; daughter Lisa (Lysle) Mroske of Pilot Butte; grandsons, Mathew Jolly, Regan Mroske, Liam Jolly and Michael Mroske; granddaughter Jessica Mroske; great-granddaughter Judy Jolly; sister Doreen (John) Houghton of England; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and extended family in England. Rita was predeceased by parents Arthur and Gertrude Brown; brother Reginald (Gladys) Neale; sisters, Barbara (Fred) Moore, Sylvia (Nickolas) Hill and Grace (Douglas) Davis.
Rita was born on October 24, 1942 and raised in the county of Warwickshire, England, and following the death of her father resided with her mother and youngest sisters. This upbringing in a house surrounded by strong, nurturing women allowed Rita to grow into an independent and adventurous adult. With her young family, she immigrated to Canada in 1970. Rita was a hard worker and a quick learner and held jobs as a photofinisher and a traffic warden before deciding, in her late forties, that it was time to go back to school to complete high school and earn a Diploma in Nursing. At age 50, her Registered Nursing credentials and restless nature took her to Texas, where she worked as an RN in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit until her retirement in 2008. Following her retirement, Rita moved to Regina in order to be close to her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren.
Her retirement years were spent reconnecting with her family, making friends in her new home and travelling. She especially enjoyed her Tuesday afternoons playing cards at the Golden Sunset Seniors Club in Pilot Butte and her standing invitation to Sunday dinner at her daughter’s home each week. She will be greatly missed at both of these events.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Speers Funeral Chapel, 2136 College Avenue, Regina, SK on Monday, February 6, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. with the Very Reverend Michael Sinclair presiding. All are welcome and the service will also be live streamed. Interment will take place at Watts Lane Cemetery, Rugby, England at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral (www.stpaulsregina.ca) or the Heart and Stroke Foundation (heartandstroke.ca) as tokens of remembrance.
A link to the livestream of the service will be found above the obituary and will be made live on the day of the service.
