Thérèse Lucie (Dupuis) Giasson

Mrs. Thérèse Giasson née Dupuis resident of the Villa Pascal joined her loving husband, John in Heaven on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at the age of 93 years. A Funeral Mass was held on Saturday, August 21, 2021 at the Notre Dame de Lourdes Roman Catholic Church, North Battleford, SK with Father Sebastian Kunnath as celebrant.

Left to cherish Therese’s memory are her loving children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Jeanine (Raymond) Grosjean and their children and families: Alain (Shannon) – Coen and Kyler; Leo (Amy) – Carter and Cole; Marc (Amanda) – Reid and Anika; Tony (Myrle) Giasson and their children and families: Daniel (AnnMarie) – Chase, Parker and Quinn; Kristopher; Charles (Val) Giasson and their children and families: Micheal (Stephanie) – Hazel; Rachelle (Darcy) Posein – Evan; Neil Hillier (Andrea) – Felicity and Kolt; Cameron Hillier; Henri (Jurine) Giasson and their children and families: Curtis; Darrell (Ivy) – Zowi, Zaria, Zadion, Zalika); Rosemarie Desrosiers and her children and families: Paul – Samantha; Nicole – Hannah; brother-in-law, Roméo Robichaud.

She is predeceased by her husband, Jean Baptiste Giasson; parents: Alphonse & Latitia Dupuis; brothers & sisters: George (Alida) Desmarais, Marianne Desmarais, Delina Desmarais, Antoine (Thérèse) Desmarais, Yvonne (Robert) Forest, Joe (Claire) Dupuis, Armand (Gabrielle) Dupuis, Lucien (Cecile) Dupuis, Emma (Lucien) Hamel, Hildege (Laurette) Dupuis; brothers & sisters-in law: Antoine Giasson, Joe (Cecile) Giasson, Gerard (Marianne) Giasson, François (Ernestine) Giasson, Thérèse Robichaud.

Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for coming today. I’m Leo Grosjean, Therese Lucie Dupuis Giasson grandson. Grandma was born on January 5th, 1928 in Edam, Saskatchewan, she was the youngest of 11 siblings. In the spring of that same year, her family decided to make the move from Edam to Cut Knife, Saskatchewan. On their way, they got stuck near Delmas at the river and couldn’t cross, they had to wait until the ice flows were not so dangerous. Finally, after a few weeks they made it across the river to their final homestead in the Cut Knife hills where she grew up. It was here in Cut Knife that she taught herself to play the organ at the Cut Knife church. Grandma took such joy playing the piano. At Christmas time, her kids have such fond memories of her sitting at the piano teaching them the songs she played in church.

Years later, in 1947, at the Delmas Hall she met a strapping young man. Therese and Jean Baptist Giasson were married on August 18, 1948 and farmed just south of Delmas where, my mom, her daughter, Jeanine and her son in law, Raymond now reside. Therese and Jean Baptist had 5 children, Jeanine, Tony, Rose Marie, Charlie, and Henri. Growing up the boys often heard Grandma say, “If you do not behave, I will tell Dad”, I’m told that this happened a lot and must be a family line as my mom used it on us a few times.

Grandma was also known for her driving skills. Somehow, she’d always be able to find her way through the snowbanks. It was said by many farmers in the area that “if she couldn’t make it no one should try”.

In 1968, she took a job in North Battleford working at the Saskatchewan hospital working as a nurse’s aide. In the winter of 1969, while both grandma and grandpa were working in the city they decided to move to North Battleford to make the commute easier. They decided to buy a house and make it permanent, so in the spring of 1970 they did just that and began renting the land to the newlyweds Raymond and Jeanine. After several years working at the Saskatchewan Hospital Grandma took a job, along with Grandpa, at the newly constructed Villa Pascal until their retirement. Grandma loved to donate her time there in many aspects including the Villa bingo association and the board of directors for the Villa.

Grandma also loved her time at Turtle Lake, where she spent lots of time in their little trailer and gazebo. As much as she loved the quiet times there, she loved hosting people at the lake. Grandma enjoyed fishing on the boat, I remember grandma teaching us all her knack for cleaning fish and of course the great fish fry’s. She would make one of the best fish fries batters you ever tasted, by mixing beer, pancake batter and her secret seasoning (which I can’t share.) She also liked her ATV rides when Uncle Charlie and Aunty Val were there with the ATV’s. Each morning she would ask to go for a ride and sit on the back waiving at people.  

When she was at home, Grandma was always keeping busy. She loved baking and getting things ready for each family holiday. Every time her family came for a holiday, they knew that the drive was worth it, as they were greeted by a smile a hug and of course their favorite baking and the smell of meat pie in the oven. When you left to go home there was always a care package ready for the drive. Rumor has it some of those treats never made it to their final destination, as there were some taste testing going on in the car.

Grandma taught us the art of gambling young! Her real passion was playing cards, where she and Grandpa spent many hours playing and visiting with friends, family, and neighbours. But you knew to never put her and my brother Alain together because for some reason that was the end of the game as they were unbeatable. 31 was the game of choice she played with us grand kids; she always had a jar of pennies ready to go. She also introduced us to the thrill of scratching scratch tickets and winning! Whenever we saw her, she had a handful of tickets for us to scratch which we still love doing to this day. We also have such fond memories of her playing bingo, she would buy her standard 12- 24 cards, her Bonanza’s and her lucky 7’s. She was a miracle woman as she dabbed her 12 or 24 cards and kept an eye on our cards, making sure we did not miss a number! As we teach our own kids these games, we remember all the time we spent playing with Grandma.

On Tuesday, April 6th after a difficult year, grandma died. She was 93 years old. We can all take comfort in the fact that she and grandpa are together again being watched over by her favorite Saint, Saint Christopher who she like to remind Christopher he was named after.

Rest in peace grandma.

The family would like to Thank everyone for the condolences and for sharing in the celebration of Therese’s life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in memory of Mrs. Thérèse Giasson may be directed to the Villa Pascal - 1301 113 St, North Battleford, SK S9A 3K1. Condolences for the the family can be left at www.eternalmemoriesfuneral.ca Funeral Arrangements have been entrusted to Vanessa Macnab of Eternal Memories Funeral Service & Crematorium.