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GORING

M.I. "Rena"

1924-2014

On February 18, 2014, Rena passed away peacefully at the age of 89, at home with her family by her side. Rena leaves to mourn her passing her loving children Rae Goring-Peace (Barry), Glenn (Arlene), Rob (Bev) and Elvy, as well as her grandchildren Aaron, Lindsay, Marshall, Carlie, Sonia, Adam, Adrienne, and Hayley and great-grandchildren Rhys, Mason, Ainsley, Elliot, Hamish, Parker, Bowen, Finlay, and Ophelia. She will also be deeply missed by her sisters Verna Armstrong (Bob) and Dorothy Wall, and sisters-in-law Kaye Mullen and Florence Mullen. Rena was predeceased by her husband Casey in 1989, her parents, and her brothers Edgar and Alvin Mullen. Rena was born on the family homestead at Makepeace, Alberta on November 21, 1924. She attended Makepeace School, travelling to and from on horseback, which, in her own words, generally involved a little bucking to begin with. She was actively involved in ranch life as a girl, rounding up the cattle with her father and driving them with a couple of young girlfriends to Bassano to deliver them to the cattle buyers and collect payment. After high school in Cluny and Bassano, Rena earned her teaching certificate at Calgary Normal School and began her long teaching career in one-room schoolhouses. In 1947, after being identified by Casey as the girl he was going to marry, they were wed in Bassano in 1948. Rena and Casey raised their family in Bassano, Crowsnest Pass, and Fort Saskatchewan. Upon her retirement from teaching in 1986, Rena and Casey moved to Red Deer to be closer to their family. They enjoyed a few years of retirement together, travelling, RVing and enjoying time with family and friends until Casey’s untimely passing from leukemia in 1989. As she reinvented her life without Casey, Rena became involved as a volunteer adult literacy tutor and enjoyed several trips with her siblings and her children. Rena deeply treasured every minute she spent with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also greatly enjoyed the sense of community that she experienced on Anquetel Close, at Legacy Estates, and at West Park Lodge, where she spent her final years. Central to Rena's life were her family and friends and the times of laughter and caring they shared. She will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by all who were fortunate enough to know her. Rena's family is deeply indebted to the entire staff at West Park Lodge for their tender, sensitive and compassionate care. As well, we have appreciated the outstanding care shown by Drs. R. and J. Mulder over the years and Dr. M. McCall most recently. A memorial service for Rena will be held at Parkland Funeral Home, Red Deer, on Mon. Feb. 24 at 1:00 pm following a private family interment. A reception will follow the service. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to The Lending Cupboard Society, 5406C 43 St., Red Deer, T4N 1C9, or a charity of your choice.