Obituary of Agnes Jean Groome

GROOME _ Agnes Jean Groome (nee Mills) passed away peacefully at St. Joseph's Hospital in Toronto on May 30, 2008. She was born November 5, 1918 on the family farm near Fleming, Saskatchewan. Eldest daughter of Sam and Isabelle Mills, Agnes was predeceased by her husband Leslie Jaquest Groome, her parents, her sister Ivy Smith, brothers-in-law Paul Groome, Al Smith, Bob Smith, and sister-inlaw Iris Mills. She is survived by her brother Reuben Mills, her sister Isabelle Mills, daughters Jean Cooperberg (Peter), Ruth Kurtz, Mary Kainer (Michael), seven grandchildren Ruthie Shugarman (Danny), Michael Cooperberg, Daniel Kurtz (Martina Sorbara), Thiago Kurtz (Andrea Breen), Anton Kainer, Leah Kainer and Lindsay Kainer, and her 3 great-grandchildren Talia and Cooper Shugarman and Francesca Kurtz. Also important to her were nieces Gae Miller, Vivian Palsson, Ariel Groome and nephews Alan Mills and Byron Mills (deceased) and their families. Dr. Reverend Agnes Groome was a woman of remarkable energy and organizational skills. An accomplished educator and minister, she was highly educated, earning seven degrees in seven decades (B.A., B.Ed., B. Div., M.A., M.Ed., Ph.D., M.Div.). Involved in life-long learning, she took her last course at the University of Regina at the age of 88. Her teaching positions included Central Collegiate (Moose Jaw, SK), Martin and Sheldon Williams Collegiate (Regina, SK), University of Regina, and University of Toronto. Her church postings included mission fields in rural Saskatchewan, St. James United Church (Regina), Grace Church in Moose Jaw, St. Andrew's (Toronto), Silverthorne (Toronto), and a short locum in Ft. Qu'appelle. A woman ahead of her time, St. Andrew's College refused her ordination and her name was struck from the roster of graduates because she had married and was expecting her first child. Agnes always took a leadership role in community organizations including the YWCA, United Nations Association, University Women's Club, Health Research Board, Saskatchewan Pension Committee, New Democratic Party (candidate in Wascana), plus many church positions including Sunday School Superintendent, Elder (first female in position at Lakeview UC). Agnes was honoured to have been appointed by the government of Saskatchewan to the Cluff Lake Inquiry into uranium development As recent as two years ago, Agnes embarked on a project to have stained glass windows honouring women in the bible installed in Lakeview United Church. As part of her dedication to education in Saskatchewan, Agnes established several scholarship funds at the University of Regina in the names of her husband Les Groome, her brother-inlaw Paul Groome, her parents Sam and Isabelle, and plus made a generous donation to the University of Regina establishing the Groome family fellowship in health research.. Agnes and Les were a remarkable team; through all their studies, travels, and endeavours they loved and supported each other. Agnes was a true matriarch in her family. She was the driving force behind family projects; everyone was expected to be onboard and involved. She could do anything and did -wire a home, build a stone fence, shingle a roof, install floors and siding, build furniture, sew, even bake 12 pies at a time. Agnes tackled everything with passion, including stamp collecting, family tree research (four volumes), and land development. Foreign travels were opportunities to study history and were fodder for lectures. Widowed at 62, she then earned a new degree, and embarked on a new career in a new city. Beloved by her grandchildren, she encouraged them in all their varied interests. Later in life she took great pleasure in building a new home (at age 80) and planting 900 perennials on Pasqua Lake. She knew Canada well as she moved many times: from Fleming to Brandon, Saskatoon, Regina, Dunnville, Guelph, Clinton, Vancouver, Moose Jaw, Regina, and Toronto. Funeral will be held on Thursday, June 5, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. in Wesley United Church, 3913 Hillsdale Street, Regina. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 4 6 7:30 pm at Speers Funeral Chapel 2136 College Avenue, Regina. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sam & Bella Mills Scholarship, University of Regina.