It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Twylla McDonald. She was lovingly known to others as mom, grandmother, granny, mommy in law, and friend. Twylla grew up on her family farm, situated on the shores of Nut Lake near Rose Valley. She loved to tell her grandchildren of a childhood spent swimming in the lake, or running barefoot through the fields to bring the cows home. She attended a one room school house called Westshore (via horseback) for her elementary education. Afterwards she attended high school in Nipawin and Rose Valley. In 1966, she married her long time friend and lifetime love Robert McDonald. They both had a great fondness for children, and in 1967 they welcomed their son Rodger. Their joy increased further when in 1972 they had a daughter, named Tawnya. Throughout their lives together they lived in several communities including Flin Flon, Carrot River, Saskatoon, Melfort & Rose Valley- before settling in Algrove near family and friends to raise their family. In her early years Twylla enjoyed cooking and made it a career, following Robert into the diamond drill camps as cook for a crowd of men…and one surprise bear (who was not a welcome guest). In the 1980s after working in Rose Valley as a short order cook, she decided cooking wasn’t really her thing anymore. In fact, after Robert passed, she never cooked a full meal again! Twylla was a very humorous person whose wit would often bring an exasperated “MA” from Rodger and a laugh from her family. Everyone will be able to recall her unique traits, like how she started many sentences with “the thing of it is..”, and “they say...” (although asking her who ‘they’ were would bring about an annoyed look from Twylla), or “I’ll tell you what..” when we were about to be told what! She loved TV and would spend hours discussing court TV with her best friend Cheryl Stewart. They would talk for so long, Cheryl would eventually hear a snoring noise from Twyllas end! (which was definitely NOT snoring, as Twylla always told Rachel). Twylla’s best loved achievement was becoming a grandmother. In 1994, she welcomed her first grandson Chaimn Penner, joined soon after by her second grandson Chaise Penner (Tawnya and Laine Penner). In 1999, Twylla’s only granddaughter was born - Rachel (McDonald) Persall (Rodger and Roxane McDonald). She was always there to hold them during hard times, and cheer them on in their accomplishments. Her grandchildren will always remember a childhood with grandma filled with unconditional love, hugs, cuddles, laughter…and lots of chinese food! When it came to her grandbabies, Twylla wasn’t sure what the word “no'' meant. They were spoiled rotten! Twylla was predeceased by her parents Bertill & Haldora Pearson, her sister Cecilia Sloney, and her beloved husband Robert. Twylla is survived by her son Rodger (Roxane) McDonald, her daughter Tawnya Penner, her grandchildren Chainm, Chaise and Rachel, her #2 son Ken Thompson (who would on occasion be called the #1 son if Rodger made her mad), her cousin and honorary brother Ed Pearson, her cousin Cindy Griffith (whom she was very happy to be able to spend time with last summer), sister in law Evelyn (Carl) Higgins, brothers in law Ted McDonald, James (Hella) McDonald, Barry (Shirley) McDonald, cousins, nieces and nephews, and beloved friends. In 1972, Twylla was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and she drew strength from knowing that she would be “sleeping in death” (Psalm 13: 3) , until the resurrection when “those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out”, (John 5: 28,29) and she will awake young and healthy with her beloved husband Robert at her side, to find their family waiting eagerly with open arms. Memorial contributions in memory of Twylla may be directed to the Canadian Cancer Society. To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Twylla McDonald, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.