JEAN (JENNIE) ST. JEAN

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JEAN (JENNIE) ST. JEAN May 14, 1936 - July 5, 2018 We have cried a thousand tears and we will cry a thousand more... Jean (Jennie) St. Jean (née Poworoski), born May 14, 1936, passed away July 5, 2018 at the age of 82. Mom was predeceased by her husband Hubert (Huey) St. Jean (1984), mother Lena Poworoski (1943), Baba Nettie and Gido John Poworoski, who raised her as a young child, brothers, Peter and Donny; and sisters, Mary, Rosie, Carrie and Gladys. Mom is survived by daughter Tracy (Frank), son Wayne, son Ritchie (Jen), daughter Yvonne (Gorden), grandsons, Zachary (Desiree) and Garrett (Destiny), sisters, Katie Maksymyk, Betty (Elmer Chicheluk) and Nettie Skrypec, sister-in-law Lee Goyman and brother-in-law Alec Karish and many loved cousins. Mom spent her early education going to a one-room school house in Malonton, MB, with those days spent helping out on the farm. She was among some of the young people who spent some of their precious free time at "Crabby Steve's Barn". One of Mom's first jobs was catering with sister Mary and other family members in Winnipeg, then at Loblaws, before she met and married our dad, Huey St. Jean. They moved to Steveston, BC in the mid-1960s, then to Kelowna, BC in 1971. She worked at SuperValu then Safeway before retiring. Mom loved her regular customers and her co-workers. There wasn't and never will be another much loved AKA "MeanJean." Mom raised four children on her own and made many sacrifices in doing so. She often said that we raised her. She was also an amazing mother-in-law. Our spouses all knew her open-hearted love. She was a spiritual person, always put others first, hated gossip, loved her privacy and loved to kibbitz with others. She was proud and stubborn. When it came to her grandsons, she was a proud Baba. Thank you Mom, for nurturing that bond only you could have with your grandsons. In her retirement she was able to enjoy her favourite pastimes, her love of gardening, learning, painting and practicing Reiki. She was a voracious reader of anything spiritual or holistic and enjoyed keeping up with current events on CNN. Mom could often be found frequenting her favourite haunts: Timmy's, A&W, thrift stores and Oh! GARAGE SALES! A special thank you from Jean and family, to Dr. Wickstrom and Dr. Swart and staff for the years of great care, compassion and tight-rope walking, to Ken and Helga for going above and beyond - it is much appreciated. Also, thanks to the amazing Safeway pharmacy staff and the staff of KGH who always provided the best of care during Mom's multiple stays. We are so grateful and proud to have called you our Mom, Baba, Jean, sister, cousin, friend...forever here with us in our hearts and thoughts - we love you. A celebratory family gathering will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a donation in Jean's name can be made to: Central Okanagan Community Gardens, PO Box 24113, Kelowna, BC V1Y 9H2. For those whose lives were touched by Jean, a link to the Dignity website where condolences and stories can be shared is included here. www.firstmemorialfuneralkelowna.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 17, 2018