BIOGRAPHY

Roffey was born as Bessie Marian Cazalet in St. Ann’s, London, England, on 2 March 1897 as the daughter of Huguenot descendants James and Rosalie Cazalet, who were highly passionate about the arts. Her father, a lead player at a Leicester Square theatre, died of meningitis when she was seven or eight years old (sources differ). Prior, her mother was a singer and pianist. Roffey watched the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902 atop her father’s shoulders.

After her father’s death, Roffey was enrolled in a girls’ school for French Huguenot descendants, and disliked it vehemently. In 1906, the Actors’ Benevolent Fund paid for her and her mother to emigrate to Canada via the steamship Lake Manitoba. They docked in Québec City, and travelled by train in an “immigrant car” to Winnipeg, Manitoba, eventually settling in Alberta.

Roffey recalled that she never stayed in one place long enough to make friends, but her mother had taught her to make her own happiness, and to never be afraid of being alone. She hated the bustling life in towns and cities, choosing to work in a quiet grocery store in Lloydminster for several years. She spent a year in Florida in the early 1920s.

On 22 November 1923, in Kitscoty, Alberta, Roffey married her husband, William “Billy” Roffey, after she was hired to be his family’s housekeeper. The couple were married for over 70 years and had a son, Donald. They started out as farmers, and in winter, Roffey worked sewing and washing, and her husband worked logging, and at the sawmill.

In 1937, the couple had saved enough money to buy a farm in Kinuso, Alberta. Roffey was widowed in 1994, and continued to live in Kinuso until she was 107, when she relocated to a retirement facility in High Prairie. She was reported to have deteriorating sight and hearing at this time, but she remained mentally sharp with a vivid memory. She enjoyed gardening in her later years.

Roffey died on 17 June 2008 at the age of 111 years, 107 days. She was survived by her son Donald, as well as four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was proud of her Huguenot ancestry, and especially proud to be a Canadian citizen.

RECOGNITION

Roffey may have become the oldest living person in Alberta following the death of Luella Smith, 110, on 20 January 2006. She may have been succeeded by Cora Hansen (1899 – 2012). Roffey was the first known Alberta resident ever to reach the age of 111.

Roffey’s age was verified by Robert Young (GRG) and Dr. Andrew Holmes (ESO), and was validated by each organisation on 15 September 2007 and 19 July 2020 respectively.

ATTRIBUTION

• Bessie Marion Roffey The Globe & Mail, 25 November 2008
• Bessie Cazaly Roffey South Peace News

GALLERY