Arrangements announced for the late Roseanne Allen

SooToday.com has received the following notice from Northwood Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Local resident Roseanne Allen was one of the first aboriginal Canadian women to compete in the Winter Olympics.

************************* ALLEN, Roseanne - It is with unbearable sadness that we announce the passing of Roseanne Allen on Saturday, June 20, 2009.

Roseanne will be sorrowfully missed by her lifelong partner Mark Billingsley.

She will be forever remembered as a dedicated, loving and caring mother to Nathan Allen.

Roseanne will be eternally missed and forever in the heart of Anna.

Roseanne is survived by her adoring family: her parents Rosie and the late Roger Allen; her brothers Richard, Chris, Floyd & Roger; her sisters Gloria, Anita, Angeline, Margaret, Maxine, Brigette, Loretta and Deanna, and is predeceased by Carla, Billy & Manny.

Roseanne was one of the first aboriginal Canadian women to compete in the Winter Olympics.

A member of the Inuvialuit Regional Corp., at the age of 13 years became the youngest Canadian to win gold in the five-kilometre nordic skiing category at the Canadian Junior Championships in 1968.

Roseanne, a cross-country skier, made history in 1972 when she competed at the Games in Sapporo, Japan where she helped the women’s five-kilometre relay team finish 10th.

Friends are invited to attend a visitation at Northwood Funeral Home & Cremation Services (942 Great Northern Road 945-7758) on Sunday, June 28, 2009 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Memorial donations made to the Salvation Army would be appreciated by the family.

Roseanne will take her final journey home for burial in Inuvik, N.W.T. accompanied by Mark and Nathan.

God Bless you Roseanne and you are our shining star.

************************* Earlier SooToday.com coverage of this story

Indian Friendship Centre worker competed in Olympics