Obituary of Isla Windsor

Left to cherish Jean's memory are her loving family: her sons: William, grandchildren: Shannon Marshall, great grandchildren: Amanda (Clinton) Conacher, Carmen Prafke, Tyler Marshall, and great great grandchildren: Terann and Brennan Conacher, and Kreighan and Treyton Prafke; Shelly Marshall; Debra Marshall, great grandchild Karen Little; Alexis (Roger) Villeneuve and great grandchildren: Tennille, Bryson, Raegan; Donna Spencer and great grandchild Shayla; Robert and Eileen Windsor, grandchildren: Brian (Janet) Windsor and great grandchildren: Kristen and Adam; Barry (Wendy) Windsor and great grandchildren: Lucas and Jacob; Shauna Windsor; Ross and Dorothy Windsor and grandchildren: Larry (Shelly) Windsor and great grandchildren: Chelsea and Tyler; Marla (Randy) Sexsmith and great grandchildren: Amber, Rachel and Robyn; Ronald and Donna Windsor, grandchildren: Laurie (Quinn) Templar and great grandchildren: Lindsay and Jade; Carla Windsor (Wayne Hatala) and great grandchild Whitney; Neil and Theresa Windsor, grandchildren: Nicole (Greg) Schmidt; Michael Windsor; George and Virginia Windsor and grandchild Wanda (Dave) Cecie, and great grandchildren: Troy and Hailey; sister-in-laws, Jessie (Wilkinson) Graffeo, Agnes Wilkinson and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by husband Archie; parents: Herb and Jenny Wilkinson; brothers: Ken & Neil Wilkinson; sister: Helen Thomarat; brother-in-law: Maurice Thomarat Sr.; sister-in-law: Mildred Wilkinson; daughter-in-law: Audrey Windsor and grandson-in-law: Roy Spencer. Eulogy Isla Eugenie Wilkinson, known to us as Jean, was born on February 14, 1907 in Everett, Ontario. Five years later, her parents, Herb and Jenny Wilkinson sold their 30 acre farm in Ontario and bought a homestead in Saskatchewan. Jean's dad and her uncle Bill came first with lumber to build the house. A year later, Jean, her older brother Ken and their mother, along with all their livestock and possessions, rode the rail to Edam. Jean recalls getting off the train and seeing a gopher for the first time. "What a cute cuddly critter" was her first impression. It didn't take long before that idea changed! When Jean arrived in Saskatchewan, the province was only two years older than her and she often said "Saskatchewan and I grew up together". Mervin itself did not exist when Jean first arrived. She frequently declared that she was older than the village of Mervin. The family homesteaded on the farm one mile east of Mervin where Bill Windsor now resides. In 1916, Jean's sister Helen was born and four years later, younger brother Neil came along. Jean took all her schooling in Mervin, and then went to Normal School in Saskatoon to become a teacher. Her first job was at Turtle Grove, but because of illness she resigned. She then taught at Blackfoot, Rabbit Lake, and lastly Eagle Hills. Jean taught for six years and on January 27, 1932 she married Archie Windsor. Her first home, which she calls the "Honeymoon Shack", was a dilapidated house in the Blackfoot area where they spent their first night of married life. Archie had grown a garden that previous summer and had stored the vegetables in the cellar, covering them with straw. Surprisingly enough the vegetables survived the frigid temperature of - 40°. She described their honeymoon as "quite romantic - just like going to Hawaii, with the waves turning to ice". Jean and Archie had 6 boys before moving back to the original Wilkinson homestead near Mervin: Bill, Bob, Ross, Ron, Neil, and George VI. Jean loved her boys; she worked hard growing a garden, milking cows, raising chickens and baking bread. Living with seven males in the house was not an easy challenge, especially when it comes to helping around the house. On one occasion, as her boys sat impatiently at the table waiting for supper to be served, she glared at them and said, "When I come back into this world, I'm coming back as a cock robin!" Jean was a good wife, mother, and neighbour, and the only hell she ever raised was her six boys. When asked to describe her boys, this is what she said: Bill - always worked hard Bob - always the one to have accidents Ross - the quiet one Ron - if there was any trouble, he was in it Neil - always quite steady George - we babied him Jean moved to Mervin in 1977, a year after Archie took sick. She lived there until the spring of 2002 and then she moved to Turtleford. She took a suite in the Turtle Valley Lodge, where she resided until October of 2008. Jean's greatest gifts to all of us include her sensational sense of humour, her optimism, her belief in the importance of education, her amazing memory, and her genuine interest in her family and friends. If anyone asked her how she was, she would reply "I'm beautiful!" (That was an understatement.) Her wit stayed with her to the end. When she underwent surgery in 2007, the anaesthetist asked her what her secret to longevity is. She looked him in the eye and replied, "Don't you know only the good die young?" Jean, you are an inspiration to us all, and you will be sadly missed by your family and friends. God bless you. Donations may be made to the Handivan or to a charity of the donors choice.