Obituary of GEORGETTE ADELE MAJOR

GEORGETTE ADELE MAJOR (NEE RICHARD) Our dear Georgette passed on the afternoon of May 29, 2015, at the age of 89 ½ years old. She is reunited with her husband Stanley (Stan) Major, who preceded her accidentally on July 3, 1982. Georgette was born in St. Genevieve, Manitoba on December 23, 1925, and was baptised on the feast day of St. Genevieve. She was given the name Georgette Adele Richard. After finishing high school, Georgette went to “Normal School,” which today is the equivalent of a B.A. degree in teaching. She started to teach in a “one-room” school house of about 30 children in attendance. One day she was at Moyer’s school supply obtaining supplies, and met her future sister-in-law Wilda. (This was the same day Stan was badly wounded overseas fighting in WWII, and the same day that Stan and Wilda’s father died.) Wilda asked for suggestions of books for teaching a young girl in grade 7-8, and then asked Georgette if she knew of anyone that was available to teach a young girl living in the north, near Herb Lake Landing. In the meantime, Georgette continued to teach at the school house until she was struck by appendicitis. She then put in her resignation. And when she was recovered she decided to go up North to teach the young Claire, Wilda’s daughter. And the rest they say is history. It was in Herb Lake Town that she met Stan. He had just returned after having spent 30 months on the front lines in WWII, serving in the North African, Sicily, and Italy campaigns under General Montgomery. Georgette and Stan quickly fell in love and she took on the Major name when they were married at St. Boniface Cathedral on June 29, 1946. After their honeymoon in Ontario, they returned back to Northern Manitoba and built a cabin near Grassy River Falls in the Snow Lake area. There Georgette and Stan successfully operated a sawmill and the lumber was used to build many of the homes in the area. They then moved into Snow Lake in 1954 and started a bulk gasoline and diesel fuel dealership for BA Oil (now under Petro Canada’s ownership). They raised six children: Adele, Henri, John, Yvonne, Denise, and Ronnie (adopted). In 1969, Stan, Georgette and family cleared, built and established a business at Ponton, MB. It included a gas station, service shop, restaurant and motel. Finally retiring in St. Norbert, Stan built the family home on the bank of the Red River, before he passed on in a boating accident in 1982. Georgette was always a generous person, continuing to teach catechism long past her retirement years, and giving her time and talent to the church. A great cook, the table was over-flowing with many a wonderful dish of food, including her renowned buns and pies. Her health gradually started to decline and eventually she had to sell the house and move to an apartment at Holy Family Haven. The day after the move, her eldest son Henri died suddenly of a heart attack while hunting. Her life was filled with many a tragedy but by her faith and her strength she was able to overcome all the trials. She first began to feel the symptoms of her sickness with cancer this past November, on returning from visiting her last living sibling, her brother Michel. He too was afflicted with terminal cancer, passing away in March. Georgette and Michel and their families were very close in friendship and love. Georgette was predeceased by her mother, father, brothers and sisters (Henri in WWII, Gilbert, Margaret, Robert, Therese, and Michel). She was also predeceased by her son Henri and her granddaughter Jenny-Rae. She is survived by her children Adele, Anita (Henri’s wife), John (spouse Shelley), Yvonne, Denise, and Ronnie, and also dearly loved by her 16 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Georgette Major's funeral will be held at 10 am Thursday, June 4, 2015, at Holy Family Ukrainian Catholic Church at 1001 Grant Ave (corner of Harrow), Winnipeg, MB, with rosary to be said at 9:30 am. Interment will take place at St. Norbert Cemetery.