Marie Valentine “Jeanne” GRAHAM

Jeanne was born on December 5,1938 in Larder Lake Ontario. Jeanne had remarkable strength and unwavering ability to find her way through many challenges and health issues.  She was little but mighty with endless determination to get through whatever life brought her way.  From 1962 to 1970, Jeanne raised her young family on a farm in Nédélec, Québec and from there moved briefly to Timmins, Ontario where she provided for her family through waitressing and seamstress work.  In 1972 she made the move out west and ended up in Calgary, Alberta where she became a Licensed Practical Nurse while raising her family.  During this time, her love for education drove her to get her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Anthropology through correspondence from the Athabasca University.  In 1979, life took her to live in Victoria, BC where she continued her nursing career.  In 1990, she moved to Sioux Lookout where she enjoyed retired life with Cullis, with much of their time spent going fishing, hunting, going to their camp and visiting family.  Jeanne spent over 20 years volunteering with the Sioux-Hudson Literacy Council for which she received a Recognition Award for her hard work and dedication.  In 2014, for health reason, Jeanne moved in with her daughter Marie (Jim) in Baynes Lake and with great strength and resilience she focused on regaining her health to enjoy life doing her sewing and crafts and embracing her ever growing family.

Jeanne had many hobbies in life, sewing/quilting, jewellery making, decorative painting, adult coloring, knitting, crocheting, and more. Her deepest passion in life was sewing.  She started sewing at the age of 16 and did so until the day before her passing.  Her sewing/craft room was her happy place, and her family is blessed with the many quilts and projects/crafts she created for them in her later years.

Jeanne will be deeply missed by her children, daughters Annette (Perry), Marie (Jim), Thérèse, son Roger, grandchildren Steven (Melissa), Jason, Lincoln (Kelsie), Bryan (Sandy), Nicholas, Austin, Ryan, Daniel, great grandchildren Kyra, Mekaela, Joshua, Ethan, Edward, Evelyn, Arabella, Deacon, great-great grandchild Maverick, sister Murielle, and many nieces and nephews.

Jeanne was predeceased by her husband Cullis (2016), parents Leopold (1965) Léonie (1977), granddaughter Michelle (1998), grandson Robert (2014).

A service will be held on October 17th at Cherished Memories Funeral Home in Fernie at 1:00pm.

www.cherishedmemoriesfs.com