Twyla May (Rouse) Sissons-Janssens

Twyla May Rouse was born in Lacombe and raised in Alix, Alberta, growing up in the small tight-knit community. The Rouses were committed members of the Alix United Church - her father Glen even helped build it. Twyla practiced her faith throughout her entire life. She joined the church as a teenager, sang in the Junior and Senior choirs, taught Sunday school and was a member of the Church Board for many years. Never being afraid of hard work was a defining attribute of hers. She would tell the story of cooking meals for her family and taking care of her little brother at the age of 11 as her parents were busy in the store. It was something that she was proud of and is one of the earliest indications of her character.

It was while going to school in Alix that she met her first love and the father of her three children.  Eddie and Twyla were married on February 18, 1959. From there they started a life together on the Sissons Farm with their shared values of hard work, loyalty, faith and kindness as the foundation in which they would raise their family. She learned to become a farm wife fast as they built the farm up together, and she developed a soft spot for the prized Simmental cattle that were raised on the Sissons Farm.

Family and her marriage were the highest priorities in Twyla’s life. She loved deeply and raised her children with an unconditional love that they are all grateful for and will never forget. Her family was her pride and joy, her entire world. Prior to becoming a Grandma, she tenderly cared for the dogs, cats, and of course the cows – many by name. When her grandchildren started to arrive, she was delighted and they were able to experience first-hand her love and kindness. The true beauty of her soul. They were the highlight of her days and she always made time for them, no matter how busy she was. “Goomie”, as they called her, always made the effort to get all the cousins together to play at the farm in the summers. She forged a bond between them and left an imprint on their hearts that will last a lifetime.

She found great sanctuary in her Lord, in her dearest friends, in nature and all animals, and in taking care of the yard, her gardens and flowerbeds. She gave her best effort at everything she did, and it showed. She was a giving person, constantly putting others first.

In the early years she hosted all the big family events and cooked for those she loved, although in later years just getting everyone together with their busy lives was challenging and it would be “pot-luck”. During the ’80s and their best harvest years it was not uncommon for her to work early in the morning, run for parts, make lunch, do more work on the farm, make supper and do the books until late into the evening. She loved calving time even though it was very busy and usually very cold in January, February and March. There were many all-nighters delivering calves and getting them full of the first colostrum and settled with their mothers. 

Tragically, Ed started showing symptoms of ALS in the spring of 1994 and was finally diagnosed in January of 1996 at the Mayo Clinic. Their lives were shattered. She would truly be tested with all she had. Ed lived 5 years with the debilitating disease, and she stood by his side and cared for him through every stage, tests and experiments, and appointments. Even at the end, she insisted to care for him at home as he wished. He often said she was “his angel on Earth”.

Twyla met her second husband Gerard at dancing. She had finally renewed her strength and gotten out to enjoy life again. And there he was, this handsome man and dashing dancer. They married on May 11, 2001. They enjoyed dancing, and then later growing older together and taking care of each other.

Anyone who knew her knew she was always busy doing books for the farm and companies. In the late ’90s she decided to collect Genealogy information and make photo albums for each of her kids and grandkids. It turned out being 4 albums full for everyone (2 of Genealogy and 2 of Grads, Weddings and Babies) - thus 56 albums later, they all have something to cherish that she spent many years putting together with love.

She fought hard with many health issues but always tried to keep a positive attitude. Sadly, she passed away on January 8, 2022, at the age of 79 years. Gerard was by her side. 

There are no words to describe the unimaginable grief and sorrow we feel from losing her – a testament to her unconditional love for us and her special connection with each one of us. We were truly blessed.

Twyla will be forever loved and missed by her husband Gerard Janssens of Blackfalds; Children: Wayne (LeeAnne) Sissons, Murray (Hetty) Sissons and Treena (Rob) Roden; Step-children: David Janssens, Jenny (Bart) Janssens and Ashley Janssens.

Grandchildren: Megan (Neil) Simon, Scott (Elizabeth) Roden, Joshua (Michelle) Sissons, Javin Sissons, Brittney (Drew) DeClerck, Arielle Sissons, Courtenay (Jonathan) Heidebrecht, Amy Sissons, Kristi (Mike) Rodgers and Michael Sissons; Step-grandchildren: Gabe Hardin, and Piper and Lincoln Janssens.

Great-grandchildren: Emily and Ethan Simon, Deklan and Gavin Rodgers, Alexia and Rebecca Roden, and Eden Sissons.

Her brother Charles (Jeanne) Rouse, brothers-in-law Eric Sissons and Dale Warren, sisters-in-law Roberta Sissons and Terry (Richard) Allam, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.

Twyla was predeceased by her first husband J. Edward Sissons in 1998; her parents Glen Rouse in 1994 and Edith Rouse in 2003; her father-in-law Clive Sissons in 1967 and mother-in-law Iris Sissons in 2008; her sister-in-law Liz Janssens of Holland in 2010, mother-in-law Rie Janssens of Holland in 2020 and sister-in-law Joy Warren in 2021.

UPDATE:  A Celebration of Twyla’s Life will be held on Saturday, May 7th, 2022 at 2 p.m. in the Alix Community Hall. Please wear purple, her favourite colour.

Memorial donations may be made to: the Alix United Church, PO Box 9, Alix, AB T0C 0B0 ~ or ~ ALS Society of Alberta, 5418-97 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 5C1 http://www.alsab.ca

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