Condolences to the families of Naedean Mitchell, who passed away Feb. 23 at the age of 97 years. Naedean was born in Sonningdale to Web and Jennie Corrigan, later moving to Baljennie where her dad ran one of the Baljennie elevators for a few years.
Naedean went to teacher’s college in Saskatoon and later became the teacher at the old Baljennie School from 1944 to ’45. She later taught school at St. Walburg. She married Keneth Mitchell of Baljennie in 1946. They bought the Red and White store from the Roy Watkin family in 1947. They ran the store and farm fuel deliveries for 25 years. They sold out in 1970 and moved to Battleford to retire. Keneth kept up fuel delivery for a few more years.
Neadean was an excellent piano player and played for many Christmas concerts dances, weddings, anniversaries and funerals. She played the old antique pump organ when an opening was held at the mini church built by the Wintergills at the St. Bridget’s churchyard in Baljennie in 2012.
They had a family of one daughter and one son. Naedean spent her retirement years in seniors’ housing in Battleford and North Battleford.
A funeral service was held Feb. 29 at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North Battleford and a private interment at the Woodland Memorial Gardens in North Battleford.
It is hard to believe the Old St. Vital church in Battleford cannot be restored. It has a lot of history since it was built in 1883, even before the North West Rebellion. It is believed the church is the oldest Roman Catholic Church in the province.
We should be proud of our history and try to restore as much as we can and not keep destroying.
