September 5, 1935 - March 23, 2022
It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Mickey Chatterley of White Rock, BC. Mickey passed away on Wednesday, March 23rd in the Melville Hospice Home at the age of 86.
Mickey was born September 5th, 1935 in Roblin Manitoba, to parents Mike and Mary Baranoski. For those who knew Mickey, she was a beautiful petite woman, always fashionably dressed and looking like a million dollars for all her 86 years.
In December of 2020 Mickey was diagnosed with cancer, and as she had all her life, Mickey did not accept that she had limits. Cancer robs us of time, of memories, and while we do not know where she stored her courage, Mickey battled cancer like the champion she always was.
In our grief we remember that Mom lived a life of purpose and joy and set an example for all of us to follow. Mothers are the people who know us best and love us most. Mickey was that mom, grandmother, and great grandmother.
We discovered over time with Mom that nothing was lost until she could not find it. Mom, we love you every day and we will miss you every day.
Mickey left home to find work at a young age, demonstrating early her determination to show the world she had the strength and courage to create a life of value filled with family and love. At 15 Mickey went to work at in Roblin Manitoba, moving to Norquay Saskatchewan and then to Portage La Prairie, where in 1955 she met Albert Chatterley.
Mickey and Albert were married on September 22nd, 1956. As she stated many times, her life was blessed when, at the age of 20, she met her first and only love Albert. Mickey was his beloved wife of 63 years before his death in 2020.
Mickey leaves to mourn two sons, Dwight (wife Jo-Ann), Derek (wife Vicki), daughter Colleen Humphries (husband, the late Patrick), grandchildren, Jade, (husband Andrew), Brock, Wesley (fiancé Stephanie), Kyle, Sam, and great grandsons Jaxson and Hunter. Mickey also leaves behind three sisters, Helen Schwab, Marge McConnel, Anne McNeil, brothers Mike Baranoski, John Baranoski, her sisters-in-law Isabel McDonald and Edna Hilts, brother-in-law Wes Chatterley, as well as many nieces, nephews and close friends.
Mickey was predeceased by her parents, brothers Pete and Bill Baranoski, and sister Sophie Stellard.
Mickey and Albert raised their family in Winnipeg, Manitoba, creating a life full of memories and friendships. Mickey set high expectations, raising her family to be respectful, hard-working and to have the moral compass that she did. Professionally Mickey worked for the Portage Creamery in Portage La Prairie before moving to Winnipeg, where she worked for 11 years with a company specializing in wigs and cosmetics.
However, it was when Mickey went to work for Estee Lauder Cosmetics that she found her passion and she stayed with Estee Lauder for 29 years. Upon Albert's retirement in 1997 they moved West and became residents of White Rock, BC and Mickey continued to work with Estee Lauder until her own retirement after the age of 70.
Mickey loved her family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and would be at every concert, sporting, and school event. Mickey also developed a love of hockey, first demonstrated as she watched her sons play while standing on top of snowbanks in freezing Winnipeg winter weather.
Since moving to White Rock, she could be found watching her grandsons play minor and junior hockey. Albert and Mickey went to all their games, cheering them and the team on, giving encouragement and the occasional coaching tip. When not at a game, Albert and Mickey loved watching their Vancouver Canucks on TV.
Our family offers heartfelt thanks for the care and attention by the doctors, nurses and technicians at BC Cancer, Fraser Valley Centre, particularly Dr. Noonan and Dr. Zhao, her family physicians, Dr Benitez-Gomez, and Dr Ravi Beri. Mickeys family would also like to acknowledge and thank the wonderful staff at Melville Hospice Home, who helped make Mickeys final journey one of peace.
At this time, in lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation to the BC Cancer Foundation.
A Celebration of Life will be held later in White Rock, BC, and Portage La Prairie, Manitoba this summer.