Obituaries

Donnette “Dona” Joan Cojocar (Alfstad), late of Regina, Saskatchewan, passed away peacefully on January 19, 2026 at the age of 88 in Elmview Special Care Home.

Dona was born in Ogema, Saskatchewan on March 11, 1937. She was the youngest of thirteen children. She completed Grade 12, and a Certificate from Reliance Business College, then worked at the Motor License Bureau office prior to and after her marriage.

Bob Cojocar moved to Regina in 1957 at age 19 and met Dona at a party- Bob thought she had a city policeman boyfriend at the time. As Bob told the story: “A while later, I stopped at the Revenue building, where she worked. I recognized her from the party and said, “Aren’t you married yet?” and Dona replied, “No, I was waiting for you.” Next time I went in I said, “What are you doing in the evenings?” They went for a root beer at A&W and as Bob said, “That’s how it went.”

They were married on June 15, 1963, and celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2023. They built their new home on McTavish Street in which Bob lived until his passing. At that time, it was a new, young neighbourhood, and they made many good and lifelong friends with their children playing, going to school and growing up together. The early years were spent building their family life, raising their sons, Blake and Brent, and attending the boys’ school and sporting events. The arrival of grandson, Tyson, was a gift, another boy to love.

January 1, 1967, Bob was given ‘his sales territory’ at Kramer Tractor. He had already spent two years on the road in sales for Acklands. Dona was not happy. She said, “No more road work!” Bob asked her to try for one year. On October 16, 1999, Bob retired from Kramer Tractor after 32 years. Bob continued working at the farm near Kayville, Saskatchewan, as well. Dona and Bob and the boys spent many weekends and holidays at the farm. Dona’s parents and family were nearby at Ogema and Assiniboia, and the family spent time visiting there with the Alfstad families. Blake remembers his grandpa Alfstad teaching him to play cribbage.

Dona did not like staying alone in the house with the boys while Bob was gone all week on the road. So, they took in about 10-15 boarders over the years who, Bob said, became part of the family. The boarders would also help and look after the boys. Some of the boarders were Karen Cojocar, Noreen Cojocar and Denise (Guraluik) Klippenstine. This also allowed Dona to pursue a variety of part-time jobs.

Dona and Bob had a rich life with family and friends, travelling to the States and Hawaii, and playing golf. She loved playing cards, being social with friends and family and loved a good joke and a laugh. She played bridge on Mondays for years and she also bowled with a group. In the early years, Bob and Dona attended many dances in Kayville. Bob said Dona was much better at the Romanian fancy step and foot stomping dances than he was.

Dona loved to bake and always had various slices and squares frozen and ready in the freezer. Her very favourite was Rum Cake. Blake said she would fill the freezer with all kinds of baking which always mysteriously disappeared when Bob and Dona went on holiday and Blake and Brent were left at home and had friends visiting. They attended Saskatchewan Roughrider fundraisers and cabarets. They went to Expo in Montreal in 1967, Canada’s 100th Celebration with their friends Gerry and Joanne Huber. Bob and Blake fixed up his old 1935 Chev truck, and he belonged to the Antique Auto Association. Bob said, “Dona and I did go on some tours in the Travelers’ Day parade before the Exhibition, at Kayville for their anniversary and Ogema and around Fort Qu’Appelle. We put a lot of miles on that truck.”

Despite experiencing health issues in his later years, Bob visited Dona at Elmview Special Care Home almost daily and kept up the house, garden and yard. Dona leaves to grieve her son Blake Cojocar of Regina, SK; grandson Tyson Acquaviva of Pittsburgh, PA, USA; brother-in-law Allan Ohm of Kelowna, BC; and many nieces and nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her parents Anna (Black) and Iver Alfstad; husband Robert Cojocar; son Brent Cojocar and her twelve siblings.

The family especially thanks Lori, the former recreation director, at the Elmview Special Care Home for the quality of Dona’s care. Bob always talked about how he was so thankful for all that she did to support them both through the transition for Dona’s new life there.

Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, January 26, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. in St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 3510 Queen Street, Regina, SK. Live streaming at: https://pwlive.ca/donnette-cojocar

A Norwegian traditional blessing: Hvil i fred. (Rest in Peace)