Obituary of Anita Durand

Anita Florenita Durand (nee Bruneau) was born December 17, 1921, in Willow Bunch, the third child of Emile Bruneau and Virginie Durand. They were Québécois and returned east when Anita was just a toddler. Emile would come west in the spring for seeding, remain for the summer, and in the fall after harvest he would return to his family for the winter. Anita did her first two years of schooling in St. Gabriel de Brandon, Quebec. In the 1930s, when times were hard, the family moved to Saskatchewan, never to return to their native province. There were six children raised on the farm just north of town. Anita loved to do farm work with her father and brothers while her sisters did the cooking and sewing with their mother. She recalled taking great pride in being quick and skilled at all she did and always made a point to finish the tasks entrusted to her faster and better than her brothers. Anita's hobbies included playing on a girls school softball team as the pitcher. Interestingly, the team travelled to other towns with players riding in the box of a three-ton truck. Anita rode in front with the driver and coach because her mother wouldn't allow her to ride in the truck box for safety reasons. On October 8, 1945, Alphonse and Anita were married at St. Ignace Roman Catholic Church by Father Roger Ducharme, a close personal friend and relative. In 1956 they moved to a farm just north of town where they resided for the next 25 years and raised three sons and one daughter. Early in their married life Anita started to work alongside Alphonse, especially liking it when it came to carpentry. Many homes in the area can boast of work done by this skilled team. They became adept at taking unwanted walls down and transforming rooms into what had been but a dream just a few days before. In the 1960s they built three houses for Edouard Montpetit, with wood salvaged from the old Catholic Church which they had been married in. In return, they acquired a quarter of land where they built a fourth house, their own, and continued to farm, eventually getting all three boys started in this way of life. They lived in this home until they retired from farming in the spring of 1981, and the youngest son, Réal, took over. At this time they bought a lot in town, Anita drew up a blueprint, and together they built their retirement home from wood they had salvaged from an old farm house. In all their years of construction, this remarkable team had always worked with used lumber, an accomplishment residents in the area recognized as truly noteworthy and unique. After Alphonse passed away in June 2002, Anita continued to reside in her home for a few years. After selling her home, Anita moved to a suite at Pleasant Valley Court, enjoying her family and visiting with her sister Alice. Requiring more care and attention, Anita then moved to the Prairie Villa in Assiniboia and enjoyed being cared for by the great staff there. Needing more care as the years progressed and her health deteriorated, Anita moved to the Ross-Payant Nursing Home, where she became their "Golden Girl." She continued to be cheerful and content being looked after with love and care from the staff. Anita passed away peacefully on December 21, 2016, at the beautiful age of 95. She was truly blessed and a wonderful mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great-great grandmother. Anita is survived by her children, Robert (Gisèle), Léo (Sylvia), Gisèle (Claude), and Réal (Doraine); 17 grandchildren; 28 great grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild. Funeral Mass was held on Thursday, December 29, 2016, at 2:00 p.m., at St. Ignace Roman Catholic Church, Willow Bunch, SK, with Father Dennis Remot celebrant. Cross bearer was Julien Fafard and altar servers were Bernard and Lise Martin. Laying of the pall by Léo Durand and Réal Durand. Paschal candle was lit by Robert Durand. Readers were Ginette Brenner and Leane Durand. Prayers of the faithful were shared by Jacqueline MacLean. Offertory gifts were presented by Natalie McConnell, Jolinne Durand, and Anita's great grandchildren. Music was shared by Diane Therrien, Gerald Rondeau, and Carol Marit. Active pallbearers were Sylvie Larwood, Leane Durand, Nathan Fafard, Jason Bellrose, Guy Durand, Marc Durand, Colin Durand, and Alain Durand. Interment took place at St. Ignace Roman Catholic Cemetery. Masses in memory of Anita were greatly appreciated.