Obituary of Teresa Haugen
Teresa Haugen left this world and moved on to the next on June 11, 2021 at age 81. We love to think of her teasing Keith and snuggling her baby Gaylen.
She was born on August 28, 1939 to Harvey and Hazel (Fellers) Bassett. As she grew up, she was surrounded by other relatives and her own family, with Glen, Glenda, Irene, Raymond, (deceased), Cheryl and Leonard (deceased), joining her in working hard on the family farm at The Valley. As her grandkids put it, Gramma lived like a Little House on the Prairie girl. She told us about hiding from the visiting health nurse so they wouldn’t get their needles, going to Fellers Heights school on horseback and once riding her horse King all the way to town. Once she and Glen hid in the wagon when their Dad was headed for Pouce Coupe. He found them after a couple miles and they had to walk back. She and Irene would still laugh and stay up late retelling these stories. Once she finished grade 8, school in Fellers Heights was done and she didn’t want to move to town to continue on. She had a job cooking for her uncles at a camp cutting railroad ties at 14, but decided to move to town at 16. She boarded with the Fynns and had a deal where she exercised horses for them. She talked about working all day with just a bottle of coke to drink to make her money last. She was a presser at the laundromat and as her family can attest she was the best ironer for the rest of her life. At 18 she married Keith after meeting him through family. Two years later, Raymond was born and she began her lifetime of excellent mothering. Veronica, Dana, and Lenna came quickly after and when Gaylen was born she had 4 children under the age of 5. Sadly Gaylen passed as an infant, and Teresa had to carry on, with the support of her family.
The family lived right beside Nana Haugen and Keith’s sister Kay in Haugen’s Hollow west of town. Kay and Teresa had been going walking as they both felt they had put on a little extra weight. Imagine their surprise when they were both expecting, though 9 years had passed since the last baby for each. Garth was born and now Teresa really had a houseful, with both Keith and the kids always having friends for things like pancake eating contests. Teresa was brave and got her driver’s license at age 44 so that Garth could go to hockey. She then added personal driver to her many ways of helping others.
As her grandchildren were born between the years of 1981 and 2010, and then great grandchildren between 2005-2020, she had lots of years to excel in this role. She could always be silly and had so much patience for any age, so that you could always feel like you were the best with her. Even if kids were fighting, she would tell each one “You be nice.” If you asked her to judge a contest she would have a compliment for each but say she just couldn’t tell which was the best. Classic grandma.
Teresa was the model of unconditional love for her family. They could do no wrong. She often showed her love for them with her excellent food. She was known for her potato salad, apple pies, roast dinners, cinnamon buns and so many other recipes that were just in her head. Teresa was also known for always making sure there was more than enough, and that legacy of hospitality already continues with her children. She loved a joke, and if it was played on her she would tell you to “Git outta here!” Each person has their own funny Gramma Haugen story, but all here knew that they were loved.
A celebration of her life will be held later this summer. Instead of flowers, plant some red geraniums and donate in her memory to www.hopeair.ca for people that need to travel for medical reasons. She would close this by saying “Love you lots,” and we know she does.
Very Respectfully, Reynars Funeral Home & Crematorium
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Teresa
Haugen 1939 2021..
reynars funeral home & crematorium
Décès pour la Ville: Dawson, Province: Colombie britanique