Rochelle Crystal Black Water, Koomsaamaki
August 7, 1970 - September 28, 2024
August 7, 1970 - September 28, 2024
It is with sadness the family announce the passing of Rochelle Crystal Black Water, Koomsaamaki (Round Headdress), 54, of the Farm Four Area on the Blood Reserve. After a brief illness, Rochelle passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Saturday, September 28, 2024 at the Lethbridge Regional Hospital, Lethbridge, AB.
Rochelle, lovingly known as Gopher, was born on August 7, 1970, to Norbert and Cecilia Black Water in Fort Macleod, AB.
In her early years, Rochelle attended schools in Standoff, Cardston, and Fort Macleod and graduated with the Class of 1990 from former St. Mary’s (now Kainai) High School, she attended the Clearview Job Corps in Clearview, Utah trained in Culinary Arts and briefly attended Lethbridge College. Rochelle was trained as a Life Skills Coach and also held jobs in food service, child and youth care, supportive care, and with her creative skills helped her mother Cecilia with a small sublimation business. Rochelle utilized her excellent training in sanitation techniques at McDonald’s located in Shepard’s Crossing, Calgary with which she was recognized and received Employee of the Month. Later she was transferred to the McDonald's located in South Lethbridge; her friends would stop by to hear her taking their orders and chat with her.
During her younger years, Rochelle competed in track and field and won in high jump in her age group on the Blood Reserve. Rochelle played clarinet while in the school band in Fort Macleod Elementary and High School. While at the FP Walshe High School, her band travelled to Expo 86 in Vancouver, Hinton Alberta, and annually participated in the Kiwanis Music Festival in Lethbridge. In High School, Rochelle’s creativity began to emerge, having made a leather belt and a coffee table; the coffee table was used for many years in Norbert and Cecilia’s home. Rochelle also played basketball in her time at FP Walshe. Rochelle was instrumental in organizing one of the first girls’ hockey teams. Being a competitive person, she played football briefly.
By those who knew her, Rochelle will be remembered as an avid Hockey Mom and the Goalie’s Grandma, taking after her Grandmother Tsinaaki, a creative cook and craftsperson, a humble, humorous, down-to-earth, and caring person; her son and grandchildren meant everything to her.
Rochelle is survived by her parents Norbert Sr. and Cecilia Black Water, her son Colby (Megan) Black Water, her grandchildren Lola, Alora, Dayton, and Roma Black Water, siblings Norbert (Heather) Black Water Jr., Aloyuisius (Marcia) Black Water, Nathan Black Water, and Andy “Bunny” Black Water Jr., her sisters Leisha Eagle Bear, Tamara First Charger, and Amanda Black Water, her nieces and nephews Shelise, Sarah, Allie, Cole (Sadie), Tristan (Autumn), Karsen, Nataeya, Riley, Cason, Emily, and Noel, her adopted brothers Joey Mountain Horse, Justin Grier, and Travis Meguinis, her Aunts Florine White Man Left, Theresa (Ron) Healy, Veronica Eagle Bear, Frankie (Wilbur) Yellow Old Woman, Natalie (Gordon) Morning Bird, Joyce (Gary) Bird, Virginia Eagle Bear, Phyllis Black Water, Audrey Eagle Bear, Rosie Veronica McHugh, Stella (Peter Chief Calf) Red Crow, Theresa Black Water, Emelda Black Water, and Joan Eagle Speaker, her Uncles Pat Eagle Bear, Joe Stan Eagle Bear, and Roland Cotton, her Godparents Andy and Connie Crop Eared Wolf and Veronica Oka-Wells, her Godchildren Myles Morning Bird and Skylar Quesnelle. Special mention to her childhood caregivers Joan Eagle Speaker, Rosie Veronica McHugh, and Bella Day Chief who served as a wealth of mothers to Rochelle while her mother was attending her training in Lethbridge.
Extended family members include families of the late Anna White Man Left, Ruth Bottle, Maggie Wings, Lucy Rose Twigg, Marion McDonald, Frank Cotton, Jane Day Chief, Eva Sweet Grass, Mike, Eddie, and Stanley Eagle Bear, Susie Bullshields, Margaret Weasel Fat, Annie Black Water, Bridget Many Grey Horses, Mary Ann Black Water, Stanley Black Water, Tony Black Water, Myrtle Scout, Ada Kadanaga, Joe, Pat, and Reggie Crop Eared Wolf, Flora Creighton, and Mary Louise Oka.
Rochelle was predeceased by her maternal great Grandparents Jack and Agnes (nee Anderton) Eagle Bear, Charles and Maakaa Calling First, maternal Grandparents Billy Eagle Bear and Margaret Calling First, paternal great Grandparents Henry Black Water-Cochrane and Maatsi’sai’pi Mary Black Water (nee Rider), Aloysius and Theresa (nee Small Face) Crop Eared Wolf, maternal Grandparents Bill Black Water and Tsinaaki Rosie (Jim) Red Crow, Aunts Mary Eagle Bear and Barbara Scout, Uncles Anthony Eagle Bear, Bernard White Man Left, Levi Black Water Sr., Gilbert Black Water Sr., Andy Black Water, Clarence Black Water Sr., Jim (Catherine) Red Crow Jr., and Kenneth Panther Bone.
Active Pallbearers for all processions include her immediate brothers and nephews, as well Ty Wells, CJ Crow, Myles Morning Bird, Byron Morning Bird, Thorly Eagle Bear, Tommy Strikes With A Gun, and Ethen First Charger.
A Family Service will be held on Friday, October 4 at Legacy Funeral Home, Cardston from 5:00 - 6:00 pm. The Wake Service will follow at Senator Gladstone Hall, Blood Reserve from 7:00 – 11:00 pm. The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary’s Immaculate Conception Church, Blood Reserve on Saturday, October 5 at 11:00 am with Father Jose Bustalino officiating. Interment will take place in St. Catherine's Cemetery, Stand Off, AB.
Rochelle, lovingly known as Gopher, was born on August 7, 1970, to Norbert and Cecilia Black Water in Fort Macleod, AB.
In her early years, Rochelle attended schools in Standoff, Cardston, and Fort Macleod and graduated with the Class of 1990 from former St. Mary’s (now Kainai) High School, she attended the Clearview Job Corps in Clearview, Utah trained in Culinary Arts and briefly attended Lethbridge College. Rochelle was trained as a Life Skills Coach and also held jobs in food service, child and youth care, supportive care, and with her creative skills helped her mother Cecilia with a small sublimation business. Rochelle utilized her excellent training in sanitation techniques at McDonald’s located in Shepard’s Crossing, Calgary with which she was recognized and received Employee of the Month. Later she was transferred to the McDonald's located in South Lethbridge; her friends would stop by to hear her taking their orders and chat with her.
During her younger years, Rochelle competed in track and field and won in high jump in her age group on the Blood Reserve. Rochelle played clarinet while in the school band in Fort Macleod Elementary and High School. While at the FP Walshe High School, her band travelled to Expo 86 in Vancouver, Hinton Alberta, and annually participated in the Kiwanis Music Festival in Lethbridge. In High School, Rochelle’s creativity began to emerge, having made a leather belt and a coffee table; the coffee table was used for many years in Norbert and Cecilia’s home. Rochelle also played basketball in her time at FP Walshe. Rochelle was instrumental in organizing one of the first girls’ hockey teams. Being a competitive person, she played football briefly.
By those who knew her, Rochelle will be remembered as an avid Hockey Mom and the Goalie’s Grandma, taking after her Grandmother Tsinaaki, a creative cook and craftsperson, a humble, humorous, down-to-earth, and caring person; her son and grandchildren meant everything to her.
Rochelle is survived by her parents Norbert Sr. and Cecilia Black Water, her son Colby (Megan) Black Water, her grandchildren Lola, Alora, Dayton, and Roma Black Water, siblings Norbert (Heather) Black Water Jr., Aloyuisius (Marcia) Black Water, Nathan Black Water, and Andy “Bunny” Black Water Jr., her sisters Leisha Eagle Bear, Tamara First Charger, and Amanda Black Water, her nieces and nephews Shelise, Sarah, Allie, Cole (Sadie), Tristan (Autumn), Karsen, Nataeya, Riley, Cason, Emily, and Noel, her adopted brothers Joey Mountain Horse, Justin Grier, and Travis Meguinis, her Aunts Florine White Man Left, Theresa (Ron) Healy, Veronica Eagle Bear, Frankie (Wilbur) Yellow Old Woman, Natalie (Gordon) Morning Bird, Joyce (Gary) Bird, Virginia Eagle Bear, Phyllis Black Water, Audrey Eagle Bear, Rosie Veronica McHugh, Stella (Peter Chief Calf) Red Crow, Theresa Black Water, Emelda Black Water, and Joan Eagle Speaker, her Uncles Pat Eagle Bear, Joe Stan Eagle Bear, and Roland Cotton, her Godparents Andy and Connie Crop Eared Wolf and Veronica Oka-Wells, her Godchildren Myles Morning Bird and Skylar Quesnelle. Special mention to her childhood caregivers Joan Eagle Speaker, Rosie Veronica McHugh, and Bella Day Chief who served as a wealth of mothers to Rochelle while her mother was attending her training in Lethbridge.
Extended family members include families of the late Anna White Man Left, Ruth Bottle, Maggie Wings, Lucy Rose Twigg, Marion McDonald, Frank Cotton, Jane Day Chief, Eva Sweet Grass, Mike, Eddie, and Stanley Eagle Bear, Susie Bullshields, Margaret Weasel Fat, Annie Black Water, Bridget Many Grey Horses, Mary Ann Black Water, Stanley Black Water, Tony Black Water, Myrtle Scout, Ada Kadanaga, Joe, Pat, and Reggie Crop Eared Wolf, Flora Creighton, and Mary Louise Oka.
Rochelle was predeceased by her maternal great Grandparents Jack and Agnes (nee Anderton) Eagle Bear, Charles and Maakaa Calling First, maternal Grandparents Billy Eagle Bear and Margaret Calling First, paternal great Grandparents Henry Black Water-Cochrane and Maatsi’sai’pi Mary Black Water (nee Rider), Aloysius and Theresa (nee Small Face) Crop Eared Wolf, maternal Grandparents Bill Black Water and Tsinaaki Rosie (Jim) Red Crow, Aunts Mary Eagle Bear and Barbara Scout, Uncles Anthony Eagle Bear, Bernard White Man Left, Levi Black Water Sr., Gilbert Black Water Sr., Andy Black Water, Clarence Black Water Sr., Jim (Catherine) Red Crow Jr., and Kenneth Panther Bone.
Active Pallbearers for all processions include her immediate brothers and nephews, as well Ty Wells, CJ Crow, Myles Morning Bird, Byron Morning Bird, Thorly Eagle Bear, Tommy Strikes With A Gun, and Ethen First Charger.
A Family Service will be held on Friday, October 4 at Legacy Funeral Home, Cardston from 5:00 - 6:00 pm. The Wake Service will follow at Senator Gladstone Hall, Blood Reserve from 7:00 – 11:00 pm. The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary’s Immaculate Conception Church, Blood Reserve on Saturday, October 5 at 11:00 am with Father Jose Bustalino officiating. Interment will take place in St. Catherine's Cemetery, Stand Off, AB.