Arlette was admitted to Boundary Hospital on December 30th for observation and sadly and unexpectedly passed away that evening. Alette was born on September 22, 1940 at Pierceland, Sask., the tenth child and sixth daughter of Jack and Katherine Watchell. In all, she had eight sisters and six brothers. Arlette moved to Fort St. John, B.C. with her family at an early age. While attending high school and a short time after, working with Catholic Sisters at Providence Hospital, motivated her to consider nursing. She took her training at Riverview Mental Hospital and graduated as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse in 1961. Her career took her to several hospitals in Canada including: Woodlands School and Essondale in New Westminster, B.C., Selkirk Mental Hospital in Manitoba, Oliver Mental Hospital in Edmonton Alberta, and Bellview Geriatric Hospital in Vernon, B.C. where she worked for 14 years and attained a Nurse 4 Supervisory position. In 1980 Arlette and her partner Bill Strookoff purchased a convenience store In high Level Alberta (a town in early stages of development). They revamped the store to provide additional services that were not available in the area, which turned the venture into a surprisingly profitable business. Arlette and Bill moved to Grand Forks in 1985 and married in 1988. Once in Grand Forks, Arlette went back to nursing at Boundary Hospital first and then at Boundary Lodge until retiring at Christina Lake – Living the Dream. Arlette was a truly compassionate person who provided the best care possible to her patients with a compassionate, professional and tireless manner. She rarely complained, kept her spirits and did her best to live her life to the fullest each day. Arlette will be fondly remembered and sorrowfully missed by her family and friends. She is survived by: her husband Bill Strookoff, stepdaughter Zaina (Bert) McPherson and their sons Rob and Dave, stepson Terry Strookoff, , Sisters: Dolores Clark, Connie (Norman) Bateman, Barbara Pomeroy, Paddy (Richard) Calon. Brothers: Hank (Simone) Watchall, Elwood (Carol) Watchell, Wallace (Eileen) Watchell, Jack (Mona) Watchell. Arlette was pre-deceased by: parents, Jack and Katherine Watchell, sisters: Evelyn Gross, Anne MacKenxie, Rose Stacey, Marie (Bob) Rosko, brothers: Joe (Marg) Watchell, Bruce (Sonya) Watchell. A celebration of Arlette’s life will be held this spring.