Obituary of Martha LIZEE

Martha Barbara Lizée (née Watteyne) of Gravelbourg, SK, passed away on Sunday, September 16, 2012, at the age of 69 years. Martha was born in Lafleche December 15, 1942 to Louis and Barbara (née Stolarciuc) Watteyne. She attended Lafleche Mathieu School for both her elementary and high school education and graduated in 1960. Martha entered nurses’ training at the Providence Hospital School of Nursing in Moose Jaw and graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1963. Martha’s nursing career took her to three of the western provinces of Canada, working in Victoria, BC, Calgary and Bassano, AB, and in 1969 she returned to her home town of Lafleche, SK to work at the hospital there. Martha was a dedicated nurse and especially loved working in pediatrics. In 1972, Martha began working at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Gravelbourg and remained a dedicated nurse until her retirement in 2010. Martha married Raymond Lizée on September 23, 1972, and instantly became a mother to his two daughters, Jocelyne, who was 12 years old, and Francine, who was 9. Their daughter Nicole was born in 1973, and son Curtis was added to the family in 1978. The family grew to include six grandsons, two granddaughters, one great grandson and one great granddaughter. Martha and Raymond were also foster parents for many years, sending money each month to provide food, medical care and an education for children in other parts of the world. They have sponsored fifteen children through the entire program. Martha delivered meals on wheels, was active in the Hospital Auxiliary, and was elected as a counsellor for the Gravelbourg community. Martha was a woman of noble character and touched the lives of many; she will be dearly missed by her family and friends. Martha is survived by her loving husband of 40 years, Raymond; daughter Jocelyn (Peter) Leham; daughter Francine (Marc) LeBlanc; daughter Nicole Lizée (Steve Raegele); son Curtis Lizée (Kim Doering); grandchildren Tarek Leham, Caleb (Estela) Leham, Brydon (Kourtney) Leham, Rhys Leham, Rachel (Lloyd) Bayes, Roland (Laurie) LeBlanc, Jeremy (Cori) LeBlanc, Autumn Lizée; great grandchildren Legolas and Aviendha Bayes; brother George (Angela) Watteyne; sister-in-law Bernadette Watteyne. Predeceased by her parents Louis and Barbara (née Stolarciuc) Watteyne; brothers Valere Watteyne and Albert Watteyne; sisters Alice (Frank) Blomme and Denise (Leger) Piche. Prayers were held on Thursday, September 20, 2012, at 7:00 p.m., and Funeral Mass on Friday, September 21, 2012, at 2:00 p.m., both at Our Lady of the Assumption Co-Cathedral, Gravelbourg, SK. Celebrant was Father Joseph Strohhofer. Cross bearer and lighting of the paschal candle by Rachel Bayes and Autumn Lizée. Readers were Camille Bourgeois and Gloria Stringer. Prayers of the faithful were shared by Linda Roberts. Offertory gifts were presented by Legolas and Aviendha Bayes. The eulogy was shared by Wendell Bailey. Music by Rita Lemay, Leona Bourgeois and the Church of Christ Choir. Active pallbearers were Tarek Leham, Caleb Leham, Brydon Leham, Rhys Leham, Roland LeBlanc and Jeremy LeBlanc. Honourary pallbearers were "Everyone whose life Martha has touched.” Ushers were Darcy and Toos Stefiuk. Honour guard was formed by St. Joseph’s Hospital and Lafleche Hospital Colleagues and St. Joseph’s Hospital/Foyer d’Youville Ladies Auxiliary. Interment took place at the Lafleche Roman Catholic Cemetery. Memorial tributes in memory of Martha to the St. Joseph’s Hospital/Foyer d’Youville Ladies Auxiliary, Box 810, Gravelbourg, SK S0H 1X0, Canadian Cancer Society, 61B Ross St. W., Moose Jaw, SK S6H 2M2, and Masses, were greatly appreciated.