Obituary for Rose Cozens (Sommerfeld)
Rose Cozens (nee Sommerfeld)
January 25, 1929 to December 26, 2022
Rose Cozens went to meet her Lord and Saviour peacefully at noon on Monday, December 26, 2022 at the Colonel Belcher Retirement Facility in Calgary. She was a loving, gentle spirit who embraced life with excitement, anticipation, a strong work ethic and an unfailing love for family and her Saviour Jesus Christ.
She is survived by her two sons, Bill and Dave and her daughter, Sandy Cozens. She spent many happy years devoted to her thirteen grandchildren, and in later years delighted in her twenty-two great grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband William George (Bill) Cozens, her daughter Brenda Lee Cozens and her siblings Kay, Henry, Allan, and Erica.
Rose was born in Kurgany, Poland as Rosalia Sommerfeld, and within a year her family immigrated to Canada with a promise of a better life. Her initial years were sponsored by a couple in the Whiteshell, Manitoba area. Her family soon after had their own home, a two-room log cabin.
Rose grew up with hardships normal to the period of the 1930’s. During those years, by the grace of God, she survived double pneumonia and a form of scarlet fever. In 1944 the family moved west to Kelowna where Rose lived for three years, attended Grace Baptist Church and made friends in the youth group. She held down several small jobs and developed her love of music. She moved to Edmonton to go to bible school at CTI (Christian Training Institute). She supported herself by working at a restaurant and an apple packing plant.
Rose completed her high school and took an abbreviated teacher training course, later to obtain a teaching job at River Hills, Manitoba which was near her sister Kay. She taught forty students in a combined classroom from grades one to six. In 1951 Rose obtained her permanent teaching certificate. She moved to Winnipeg in 1953 and taught at a “Normal” school. She bought her first car in 1956 and served on a “gospel team” and taught DVBS (Daily Vacation Bible School). While volunteering at a Christian summer camp, Rose agreed to attend a wiener roast at her sister Kay’s place where she met Bill Cozens, a Mountie, who became her husband nine months later on May 3, 1957.
During the early years of marriage, Rose seamlessly adjusted to the many transfers with the RCMP. These included living in Hamiota, Selkirk, Winnipeg, and Thompson Manitoba. She continued to teach between giving birth and raising her children Brenda, Bill, Dave and Sandy. After Bill’s retirement from the RCMP he accepted a position as the Alberta representative for Christian Service Brigade and the family moved to Red Deer, Alberta, where Rose’s they attended Bethany Baptist Church and she was active in the church, choir and Sunday School. During this time they spent many happy winters in the Palm Springs area. She thoroughly enjoyed fellowship in her church and with her close friends, skiing, water sports, golf and playing games around the table.
After Bill's death, and as her health deteriorated, she moved to a retirement residence in Calgary, where she spent her final years.
A Memorial will be held for Rose on Friday, January 6, 2023 at 2:00 pm at Bethany Baptist Church (3901 44 St, Red Deer, AB). To view and share photos, condolences and memories of Rose, please visit www.choicememorial.com.
January 25, 1929 to December 26, 2022
Rose Cozens went to meet her Lord and Saviour peacefully at noon on Monday, December 26, 2022 at the Colonel Belcher Retirement Facility in Calgary. She was a loving, gentle spirit who embraced life with excitement, anticipation, a strong work ethic and an unfailing love for family and her Saviour Jesus Christ.
She is survived by her two sons, Bill and Dave and her daughter, Sandy Cozens. She spent many happy years devoted to her thirteen grandchildren, and in later years delighted in her twenty-two great grandchildren. She is predeceased by her husband William George (Bill) Cozens, her daughter Brenda Lee Cozens and her siblings Kay, Henry, Allan, and Erica.
Rose was born in Kurgany, Poland as Rosalia Sommerfeld, and within a year her family immigrated to Canada with a promise of a better life. Her initial years were sponsored by a couple in the Whiteshell, Manitoba area. Her family soon after had their own home, a two-room log cabin.
Rose grew up with hardships normal to the period of the 1930’s. During those years, by the grace of God, she survived double pneumonia and a form of scarlet fever. In 1944 the family moved west to Kelowna where Rose lived for three years, attended Grace Baptist Church and made friends in the youth group. She held down several small jobs and developed her love of music. She moved to Edmonton to go to bible school at CTI (Christian Training Institute). She supported herself by working at a restaurant and an apple packing plant.
Rose completed her high school and took an abbreviated teacher training course, later to obtain a teaching job at River Hills, Manitoba which was near her sister Kay. She taught forty students in a combined classroom from grades one to six. In 1951 Rose obtained her permanent teaching certificate. She moved to Winnipeg in 1953 and taught at a “Normal” school. She bought her first car in 1956 and served on a “gospel team” and taught DVBS (Daily Vacation Bible School). While volunteering at a Christian summer camp, Rose agreed to attend a wiener roast at her sister Kay’s place where she met Bill Cozens, a Mountie, who became her husband nine months later on May 3, 1957.
During the early years of marriage, Rose seamlessly adjusted to the many transfers with the RCMP. These included living in Hamiota, Selkirk, Winnipeg, and Thompson Manitoba. She continued to teach between giving birth and raising her children Brenda, Bill, Dave and Sandy. After Bill’s retirement from the RCMP he accepted a position as the Alberta representative for Christian Service Brigade and the family moved to Red Deer, Alberta, where Rose’s they attended Bethany Baptist Church and she was active in the church, choir and Sunday School. During this time they spent many happy winters in the Palm Springs area. She thoroughly enjoyed fellowship in her church and with her close friends, skiing, water sports, golf and playing games around the table.
After Bill's death, and as her health deteriorated, she moved to a retirement residence in Calgary, where she spent her final years.
A Memorial will be held for Rose on Friday, January 6, 2023 at 2:00 pm at Bethany Baptist Church (3901 44 St, Red Deer, AB). To view and share photos, condolences and memories of Rose, please visit www.choicememorial.com.