Obituary of Angele Corcoran

Angele Marguerite Corcoran passed away in Regina, SK on October 19, 2015 at the age of 90 years. Angele Corcoran was born on the farm north of Meyronne on April 21, 1925. She was the third child born to Victor and Irma (nee Vereecke) Verhelst. In 1931, she started her education in a one room country school named Vindictive. The children walked to school since it was only two miles from home. On cold blustery days their dad would take them in a closed cutter or bob sleigh. Angele and her younger brother George would be the first to walk or run to school. They enjoyed their studies and ball games as well as many other sports activities. Christmas concerts were their favorite school gathering. Her mom made all her clothes and school bags. The children’s lunch pails were syrup, honey and jam cans. Angele had many farm chores to occupy her after school hours. These chores included feeding the animals, cleaning the barn, stooking, stacking sheaves, shoveling wheat, picking stones and helping in the house. She carried her drinking water to the house in a pail drawn from the well. In the spring and summer they would chop off broken tree branches which made excellent kindling for the kitchen range. Life was great, especially when cousins would come over for a visit after church on Sundays. A sad time for Angele was when she was eight years old and in grade three, her five year old sister Alice passed away. The very next year she attended the Convent School in Lafleche. Three years later she returned to the farm school north of Meyronne for two years. She finished her grades eleven and twelve at the Convent of Jesus and Mary in Gravelbourg. Angele met and married her lifetime partner John Corcoran on October 14, 1953 in Lafleche. They made their home north of Meyronne. This is where they raised their four children; Agnes, Patricia, Ralph and John Jr. She enjoyed taking care of her children; keeping up with their studies at school and ensuring they all did their chores. Later, she enjoyed her grandchildren and great grandchildren. All of her grandchildren loved asking her for her pancakes for breakfast. She remained active with the Club 50 in Kincaid, also doing hobbies like crocheting, ceramics, wood working projects, and helping John Sr. with his knitting projects. Their grandchildren never ran out of mitts, toques, scarves and even Christmas sweaters. For the past eight years, Angele lived at her daughter Pat’s house and truly loved being part of all the action. Her presence and her smile will be missed. Our family appreciated everyone that have served, shared and loved Angele "over and above”. We have been so blessed by your gracious acts of visits, laughs, birthdays and holidays. You have been extremely full of mercy and grace (as has mom) these years. Angele was determined to be content and happy no matter what and you have all made that possible. It was so nice and comfortable for all the community to care for our mom, we weren’t alone. "How good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” Angele is cherished by her loving family; Agnes (John) Smith, Pat Smith, Ralph (Linda) Corcoran, and John (Lorie) Corcoran, along with her twenty-two grandchildren, thirty-eight great grandchildren (and two more on the way). She is also survived by her siblings Marcel Verhelst, Esther Phaneuf, brothers-in-law George Corcoran, Joe Corcoran, Allan Corcoran and sister-in-law Sr. Ellen Corcoran. Predeceased by her husband John Corcoran, son-in-law Wilfrid Smith, parents Victor and Irma Verhelst, siblings Maria De Laet, Sr. Agnes Verhelst, George Verhelst, Daniel Verhelst, Alice Verhelst, brothers and sisters-in-law, Rita Corcoran, Tom Corcoran, Theresa Packet, Jim Corcoran, Patrick Corcoran and Mary Stuart. Prayer Service was held Friday, October 23rd, 2015 at Ste Radegonde Roman Catholic Church, led by Cookie Jacques and Joanne Vinish. Funeral Mass was celebrated on Saturday, October 24th, 2015 at Ste Radegonde Roman Catholic Church with Father Maurice Minne celebrant. Interment Meyronne Cemetery. Memorial donations in Angele’s memory to the Ste Radegonde Building Fund and Masses were greatly appreciated. In Jeremiah 29:13 The Lord says. "For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.” God has a future for every one of us. He came on earth 2015 years ago to bring His kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. In 1912, Grandpa Verhelst, Mom’s dad, missed the Titanic and took a cargo ship to Canada instead. God still has a plan for this generation (and the next to come) to prosper and to give us hope and a future. We are blessed to be living in Canada today, the best country in the WORLD! Mom always believed in Jesus and taught us to pray when the storms come and to watch for miracles. Just before her passing, she was comforted again when the priest came to pray for forgiveness of sin, comfort and strength to go through this death into life. She was at peace and God graciously and faithfully took her home quickly. We her children and the generations after, still choose to believe and rely on God for our next breath. In spite of the worldly systems in schools, hospitals and government, we will be found trusting in God just like our ancestors and just like Jesus taught us to. They loved us enough to tell us the truth, as I love you today. Let us all continue to stand (in their faith in God) for our future. -The family of Angele Corcoran