Obituary of Violet Hazel Compton

Violet Hazel Compton

    June 8, 1933 – April 28, 2024

Vi ended her life journey in Castor, Alberta, the same town where she was born and lived for almost all of her 90 years. Vi was the fourth of five children of Julius and Barbara Falkenberg (nee Shreiber), both German immigrants who separately left what was then Bessarabia (now western Ukraine) with their families in the early 1900s to homestead in Castor. Life on the homestead during the Depression was not easy. Vi often recounted how thrilling it was to find a single orange in her Christmas stocking.

Vi had a special bond with her older siblings, Anita (Lewis), Helen (McCorquodale) and Scotty, who raised her after mother Barbara died in 1936. After Anita and Helen moved to Calgary, Vi lived with Julius’ sister, Hannah Kirschman, Hannah’s husband Emil and cousins Ken, Margaret (Spady) and Helen (Brigley) and also with Julius’ brother Jacob, Jacob’s wife Pauline and cousins Polly (Baird), Trudy (Brown) and Edna (Schultz) on their family farms. Eventually she moved into town so that she could finish high school. She supported herself by working as a live-in nanny.

It was in high school where she met the love of her life, Frank Compton. They married in 1953 when Vi was 20 and Frank was 22. Music and dancing invariably played a part in their active social life. Vi’s primary focus was always family. She developed an extremely close relationship with her mother-in-law, Cecelia. Her pride and joy were her children, daughter Shona (Gary Rolczewski) of Toronto and Trevor of Edmonton. She also had a special place in her heart for grandson Philip Bradley, his wife Shannon and great-grandson Franklin. Vi was the happiest when her family returned to Castor for visits.

Vi had many passions in life. She taught herself to cook and bake. Numerous Castor residents enjoyed her trays of goodies at Christmas. She was an amazing seamstress, making all of her children’s clothing. She became an excellent gardener and she took pride in ensuring that her yard was always immaculate. Many a wedding photograph was taken in her yard and she won numerous ribbons at the local fair for her flowers. She always planted a large garden which she would harvest and prepare for winter. Her early life had taught her to work hard and during those family years, it was a rare occasion when anyone would find her sitting down and resting. Vi was a very social person and her close network of friends, the church and charity work formed a huge part of her life.

Vi managed to stay in her own home until August 2023 when she finally moved to Paintearth Lodge. That would not have been possible without the devoted care and support of her cousin Helen who became more like sister number three. Although her physical health was beginning to deteriorate, she was living a happy life at the Lodge.

Vi was predeceased by husband Frank, sisters Anita and Helen, and brothers Scotty and Paul. She regretted not being able to spend her senior years with Frank and dearly missed the regular telephone calls with sisters Anita and Helen. Her passing is mourned by her immediate family and the extended Compton, Falkenberg, Lewis, McCorquodale, Kirschman, Brigley and Spady families scattered across Canada and the United States. Vi and Frank are together again after 18 years, and are now dancing their final waltz.

Shona and Trevor wish to thank Dr. Hanton and the staff at Our Lady of the Rosary Hospital for their wonderful care and compassion during Vi’s final days.

A funeral service will be held at Knox United Church, Castor, Alberta on June 8, 2024 at 1:00 P.M., the date when Vi would have celebrated her 91^st birthday.

Should you wish to honour Vi’s memory, a donation to Castor Knox United Church Memorial Fund, Box 96, Castor, AB T0C 0X0, or Our Lady of the Rosary Hospital Foundation, Box 329 Castor, AB T0C 0X0 would be greatly appreciated.