Van Coates

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Myfanwy "Van" Elizabeth Coates

September 11, 1932 - January 4,2026

With sadness, the family of Van Coates announce her passing on January 4, 2026 at Sunnyside Adventist Care home in Saskatoon at the age of 93. Van was born on September 11, 1932 near Kilwinning, SK and grew up on the farm near Kilwinning. Growing up, Mom's only relatives in North America were her parents and her brother.

After finishing school, Van worked in the bank in Leask. On July 23, 1955, Van married Art Coates of the Leask area. She often mentioned that she cherished gaining an extended family as Art had nieces and nephews, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Mom was almost 40 years old before she first met a cousin of her own who had grown up in England but moved to Minot, ND.

In 1956, Van and Art moved to the farmhouse they had built east of Leask. Together they farmed and raised 4 children. Mom always had a large garden and plenty of preserves saved for the winters. She enjoyed picking wild berries and making them into jam. And she frequently used her Singer sewing machine to stretch the household budget. For 50 years, Mom kept a diary of sorts to record rainfall amounts, weather records, who came to visit, cost of groceries, when the crops were planted and when harvest was finished and many other details of daily life. If there was a question about when something happened at some point in the past, she'd dig out the notebooks to pinpoint the day.

Mom was a familiar face at the polling stations for provincial and federal elections. She filled the roles of returning officer or scrutineer for over 50 years.

In 1989, Van and Art retired to the house they had built in Leask and spent many hours curling, golfing, travelling and visiting with other seniors in their community. They were also known as avid walkers on the streets of Leask. Mom also spent many hours quilting and knitting.

After Art's passing in 2011, Mom moved to a condo in Shellbrook. Since it was only a few blocks to the grocery store or senior center, she chose to walk instead of drive.

In September of 2014, Mom decided it was time to sell her condo and her car and move to assisted living in Saskatoon. She liked the idea of someone else doing the cooking and cleaning and being able to visit with other seniors without having to go outside if she didn't want to. But she still walked regularly and was known to walk a couple of miles to do her banking or to visit Bruce.

In July of 2023, Mom moved to the Sunnyside Adventist Care home in Saskatoon.

Van is survived by her children Bernice (Darrell), Bruce (Leigh), and Jean (Jim), grandchildren Stephanie, Kristen, Brenden, Heather, Jaime, Joni, Krista, Brody, Jeremy, and Jessica, 25 great grandchildren, 1 great great grandson, and 7 nieces and nephews. To keep track of all of the great grandkids, Mom kept a hand written list of their names and when they were born so at any point in time, she could tell you how old one of them was.

Van was predeceased by her husband Art, son Gordon, great grandson Ethan, her brother Oscar (Shirley) and Art's siblings Bob and Edna (Roy).

A Memorial Service for Mom will be held January 14,2026, 2:00 pm at the Saskatoon Funeral Home Chapel(311 4th Avenue North)

Mom will be laid to rest in the cemetery in Leask beside Art, her beloved husband of 55 years.

Memorial Donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Society of Saskatchewan (301-2550-12th Avenue, Regina, SK S4P 3X1).

To share memories and condolences, please visit www.saskatoonfuneralhome.com. Arrangements entrusted to Saskatoon Funeral Home, 306-244-5577.