Reta Rae Churchill “Rae” age 91, peacefully entered Heaven on January 9th, 2019.
Reta Rae Churchill (nee Redden) was born December 9th 1927, the oldest child to the late Charles and Edith Redden. She was named “Rae” after her mother’s dear brother Ray Metcalfe.
Rae was predeceased by her parents Charles and Edith Redden, her sister Ruth Elaine, and her loving husband of 52 years Thomas James Churchill.
She is survived by her only brother Charles Frederick David Redden of Calgary, Alberta; her four children Fred, James, Faye and Cheryl; her grandchildren Cassandra, Amanda, Theren and Cherise, Josh, Alan, Cheri-Lyn, Joey, Cody and Rosie; and her great grandchildren Jayden, Cadi-Lyn, Thomas, Jaxson, Lawson and Swayze.
Rae was born and raised in the little town of Macrorie Saskatchewan until the family moved to Wiseton Saskatchewan in 1933 when she was 6 years old.
Rae completed her entire high school by the time she was in the 10th grade in Wiseton, Saskatchewan. Her father Charles Redden owned a hardware store in Wiseton and as a teenager Rae worked alongside her father at the family store giving service to the community, taking on more and more responsibility under her father’s guidance. Rae would later fondly say that those were good years.
She then attended 3 years of Bible College at Bethel Bible Institute in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan where her relationship with her Savior Jesus Christ grew stronger. She also developed close lifelong relationships there and graduated in 1946.
Rae also attended Teacher’s College and earned an Interim First Class Certificate in Education in 1949.
She would recall how challenging it was to teach at the one room Padgate school and prepare and grade all the lessons for multiple grade levels.
On September 12, 1950, Rae married the love of her life Thomas James “Tom” Churchill whom she had met at Bible College and over the years they adopted 4 loving children: Alfred Charles, James Ray, Faye Lynn and Cheryl Rose.
Rae’s heart’s desire was to have children and she ceaselessly poured out her love and devotion to her family. She worked tirelessly side-by-side with her husband Tom in the family business in the farming community in Wiseton, Saskatchewan for many years. She was a great gardener, and wonderful cook and prepared a Sunday dinner almost every day of the week.
Rae was a gifted musician and for years she was the church pianist and organist; she also played the xylophone and composed songs.
A self-described introvert, she flourished alongside her gentle outgoing husband Tom, and together over the years she and Tom touched many lives. For example they hosted a weekly Bible study, and a weekly sing song in their small apartment in Edmonton, Alberta where they resided after retirement. Although they missed life in the prairies and small town of Wiseton, Rae would often say how grateful they were to live in the city of Edmonton and enjoyed the beautiful trees and parks and close proximity to the services they would need in later years. Rae busied herself also with her tatting, crocheting, knitting, and quilting and enjoyed every minute with her dear husband Tom.
When she was well into her eighties, Rae authored books about her family history, and life experiences including faith and grieving, and also a family favorites cookbook. She was on her computer every day until she entered the hospital on November 20th, 2018.
Rae had a strong faith in God and she was truly a great encourager. By the age of 91 she had tatted well over 10,000 little crosses which could be used as bookmarks. She would happily give them to anybody and share her faith in Jesus Christ. She will be remembered for her strong enduring faith and resilience through life’s heartbreak and hardships, and for her endless devotion to her five “Treasures”: her dear Tom and the four children that God entrusted her with.
Friends of the family are invited to attend the Celebration of Life service for Rae at 2:00 pm on Thursday January 17th at Northwest Pentecostal Assembly. 9949 169 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5X 5A7. Donations in lieu of flowers to World Compassion Terry Law Ministries, Canada office PO BOX 1415 Medicine Hat, AB. T1A 7N3. 403-526-8229. www.worldcompassion.TV
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Reta Rae Churchill January 9 2019..
Death notice for the town of: Edmonton, Province: Alberta