The game is in mourning . . .

Taking Note joins the rest of the hockey world in mourning the death Friday of Colleen Howe, the long-time wife of Gordie Howe and the mother of Mark, Marty, Cathleen and Murray. . . . Colleen died at home in Bloomfield Hills., Mich., after a long battle with Pick's disease, a rare form of dementia. She was 76. . . . In one way or another, Colleen touched most people who are involved with the game of hockey. . . . One of the highlights of my writing career occurred while I was with the Regina Leader-Post. I travelled to Saskatoon for the dedicating of a Gordie Howe statue in the downtown area — there is a photo of that statue right here and it's worth it to check it out just to see the poised left elbow. . . . While Gordie was busy with, yes, autograph seekers and fans, Colleen and I chatted for the longest time. She answered questions, she gave opinions — oh, did she! — and I can remember the laughter. . . . As someone whose late mother had dementia, I can tell you that there will be grief and there will be relief. But the Howe family will be able to remember the good times, because Colleen gave them a lot of those.