Rose Marie Wall passed away peacefully at Seton Hospital in Jasper on October 5th, 2026.
While her family was by her side, so too was her extended healthcare family. There are simply no words to convey what the wonderful team of physicians, nurses, aides, lab techs, pharmacists, administration, food services and so many more have meant to Rose and our family. Their professional loving care gave us so many extra years together.
Rose Marie Ann Bacon was born in St Boniface, Manitoba July 12, 1936. Her early life was hard. Her mother died in childbirth when Rose was just four years old, leaving her and her three siblings, Raymond, Edward and Alma to move between orphanages, relatives’ homes and the convent at the St Boniface Cathedral. Rose adored the nuns who cared for them there and her Aunty Exhilda who did everything possible to bring joy to their young lives.
When the opportunity arose for Rose to board a train for the mountains, Rose took it, little brother Eddie in tow. Emerging from Brule Tunnel and seeing the mountains south to Jasper, she knew she was home. She immediately found work as a “Beanery Queen” at the train station café. It was there that she met a strapping Norwegian farm boy—and after serving him a milkshake with two scoops instead of one, a 69-year love story began that would define the rest of her life.
Rose and Fred Wall married in 1958 and welcomed their sons Perry and Gilbert, followed by their daughter Shanon in 1966. Much of their childhood revolved around the arena. Rose was heavily involved in figure skating and relished being in the stands as a crazy hockey mom watching her boys play. She also curled and from the stories we have heard, we are thankful there was no social media at the time. Rose loved her days in the mountains and along with the “Hiking Girls,” covered an incredible amount of ground in Jasper, Banff and Mt Robson, serving as the group’s official journalist.
In her later years, spending time with her grandchildren—Gabrielle, Taya, Sam and Harper—brought her immeasurable joy. Christmas was by far her favourite time of year. Rose loved traditions of making tourtière, Swedish meatballs and gingerbread houses, and setting up her Christmas village.
Rose was an avid reader and true historian who could entertain for hours with detailed stories of her entire life. She loved to write and kept meticulous journals. Though English was her second language, her grammar was impeccable and her vocabulary extensive.
In her 80s, she researched and created comprehensive ancestry scrapbooks for each of her grandchildren. Rose continually stayed in touch with letters to family, friends, neighbours and even past tourist room guests into her 90s.
Health conditions often kept Rose close to home but she kept positive with Shanon’s enduring support and Fred’s unwavering love.
Rose Marie’s legacy will live on through our loving memories, her writings, her beautiful quilts, and of course, her unforgettable laugh.
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