Obituary of Jean Billy

Jean Billy of Saskatoon, formerly of Yorkton passed away in the Palliative Care Unit at St. Paul’s Hospital in Saskatoon on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at the age of 89 years. 

Jean (Jennie) was born near Burgis, Saskatchewan to Steve and Dora Terlesky.  She received her education at West Scalet School.  As a young adult she commenced employment as an egg grader.

On June 15, 1952 Jean was united in marriage to George Billy in Canora.  The couple spent their first year of married life in Burgis before relocating to Canora in 1953 where they raised two daughters, Laurel and Susan and relocated once more to Yorkton in 1976.

Jean spent many years as a Tupperware dealer and worked in retail stores such as Eaton’s and Zellers until her retirement at age 65.  She volunteered her time as a Sunday school teacher, Brownie leader and in TOPS.  Jean was very creative and loved to generate humorous poems and lyrics, paint pictures, crochet, make quilts and decorate rocks, many of which she gifted to family and friends. She liked to garden, cook, bake, read, solve crossword puzzles, watch curling and never missed watching the news. A loving and caring mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Jean will be sadly missed by her family and friends.

Predeceased by her parents; her loving husband George; brothers Metro (in infancy), George, John, William and Mike; sisters Helen (in childhood), Mary and Alice, brothers-in-law Metro, Mike L., Orest, Mike H., Dan, Sam, Matt, Bob, Norman, and Ray; sisters-in-law Gerry, Aileen, Peggy, Gladys, Olga and Cynthia.

Jean is survived by her daughters Laurel (Brian) Bassingthwaite of Asquith, SK and Susan Billy of Saskatoon, SK; granddaughter Erin (Rod); grandson Sean (Amanda); great-grandchildren Ronan, Cordylia, Hazel and Kane; sisters Elizabeth, Vera, Ann, Lillian, Marge (Bill) and Iris; brothers-in law Alex and Jim (Vera) and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Jean’s life was held on Thursday, May 4, 2023 from the Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre with Crystal Bailey, Certified Celebrant officiating. Grandchildren Ronan Laverdiere, Cordylia Laverdiere and Hazel Taylor lit candles in memory of Jean. The interment followed in the Garden of St. Luke, Yorkton Memorial Gardens with Brian Bassingthwaite, Sean Bassingthwaite, Rod Taylor, Leslie Hudema, Luke Walters and Greg Ottenbreit serving as casket bearers.