Obituary of Tom Quewezance
Reynold Thomas Quewezance was born on October 1, 1951 and passed away suddenly at his home on May 10 2025 at the age of 74 years. He leaves to mourn his partner Caroline and grandchildren Tom Jr, Jeremiah and Nevaeh, great grandchildren: Azrael, Kieran and Talayah. He leaves to mourn his sisters Myrna, Lorianne and brother Ted and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Tom was predeceased by his son Thomas and daughter Carrie, his mother Joyce and father Clifford. His siblings: Reginald, Phyllis, Aubrey, Lorena, Eleanor, Lorne, Warren, Cecile, Darryl, Andrea and Toni. Nieces Kathleen, Kelsey, Lindsay, Kelly, Amy and Karis and his nephews Frankie, Frankie Jr., Travis and Nathan. He is also predeceased by his extended family; paternal grandparents Bill Joe and Alice Quewezance (nee Kakakaway), aunts Gladys, Gloria, Maryanne, Leona, Mildred and Seraphine and uncle David, maternal grandparents Roy and Nellie Whitehawk (nee Shingoose) and Aunts Alma, Cora and Winona and uncles Wesley, Mervin, Delbert, Clifford and Langford.
Tom had a traumatic childhood abandoned by his mother due to domestic violence then rejected by his father which was never resolved for the duration of his life. He was raised by his paternal grandparents and his aunt Maryann and was close to his cousins Norman, Ronald, Maynard and Delmar. He was an Indian Residential School survivor enduring child abuse and violence for the years he attended. He struggled with alcohol and drug abuse throughout his lifetime. Finally, he successfully quit the addictions on his own telling his sister “It took me six months to detox and I hardly slept during that time, I really suffered”. He graduated from Grade Twelve and participated in sports, basketball, volleyball in school and in the community. He also wrote for the community news journal, Keeseekoose Crier. Thereafter, he left the reserve to travel, live and work in Thompson, Moose Jaw, Winnipeg, Kansas USA. When, he finally returned home he became an avid gardener planting a large garden every spring just to give away most of his produce.
He followed the traditional teachings and danced Sundance for many years. He was a generous, proud, independent and hardworking Anishinaabe man who loved his family, nieces and nephew. They used to call him “Tom the Bomb”.
He was loved and will be missed by all. Rest in peace Tom.
The Wake commenced on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 from the Keeseekoose Band Hall. The Funeral Service was held on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 from the Keeseekoose Band Hall. The interment followed in the Keeseekoose Traditonal Cemetery with Norman Quewezance Jr., Fred Quewezance, Quentin Quewezance, Delreous Johnson, Ralph Whitehawk and Laurent Severight serving as casket bearers.
Memorial donations may be made for the purchase of trees, to be planted at Keeseekoose First Nation.
