Laura Mathilda Bourassa was born on January 30, 1912, in the Daleview district in the Ceylon RM of the Gap #39. She was born on SW 12-5-19, not too far from the old St. Colette Church. She was the first born to Romuald and Mederise Bourassa. She passed away peacefully with her family by her side on October 3, 2005 at the Radville Marian Health Centre, at the age of 93.
Laura was predeceased by her parents and her husband Joseph (1984), two sons, Louis (1965) and Archiel (1967), one daughter, Mathilda (1967), two Son-in-laws, Raymond Paulhus (1999) and Roger Storle (2001), six Grandaughters, Anne Paulhus (1958), Marie Paulhus (1962), Mary Andries (1969), Janet Prybylski (Andries) (2004), Pauline Zubot (Bourassa)(2002), Deanna Storle(1997), and one Great Grandaughter Courtney Paulhus (1988), one sister, Ida LaBelle, three brothers, John, Ralph and Arsen.
Laura leaves to mourn five sons and four daughters, OLIVA (Cecile) of Estevan, SK., ROSALIE Paulhus of Moose Jaw, SK., EVELINE (Francois) Porte of Weyburn, SK., DENIS (Annette) of Falher, AB., BERTHA (Omer) Andries of Estevan, SK., HECTOR of Lloydminster, SK., HARVEY of Saskatoon, SK., JULIETTE Storle of Lake Alma, SK., ROMUALD (Liz) of China, two sisters Jeanne Joynt of Winnipeg, MB., Lucy Maurice of Radville, SK., one brother, Robert of Montreal, QUE., Twenty-Three Grandchildren, Fifty-Three Great-Grandchildren, Six Great-Great-Grandchildren, as well as numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
Laura moved to St. John N.D. with her parents and three of her siblings in 1917, where she received her schooling at Fairview School. The family lived on a farm and four more siblings were born. In 1927 the family moved back to Saskatchewan to a farm four miles south of Radville.
Laura Married Joseph O. Bourassa on September 23, 1930 in the Holy Family Church by Fr. J.A. Morrisette. They lived on Joseph’s farm, 10.5 miles SE of Ceylon. They raised a family of twelve children, seven sons and five daughters. Laura and Joseph farmed in the Lacadia and Abbott districts from 1930 to 1964. When Lacadia, their country school closed in 1955, they decided it was best to move into Radville. They lived on Giesen Street, Main Street and then bought a house on Beckwell Avenue and lived there for fourteen years until they retired into the Golden Heritage.
Through the years Laura was a very hard working lady always providing for her family. She always had a big garden and also did most of the sewing for her large family, an art that she passed down to all of her daughters. On weekends, she enjoyed listening to music, as her husband and some of her children played the violin or guitar. Many evenings were spent playing cards which helped pass the time during the long winter months.
Laura found it amazing to look back and see how times have changed and reminisce about the olden days. She came from a generation of first pailing water from a well, to priming a pump, and then to a running tap in the sink, from a washboard came a wringer washer, then the automatic washing machine. Laura would chuckle, remembering how she would bake bread in a wood burning stove and now to see today’s modern microwave oven.
On May 12,1965, tragedy struck Laura and her family when she lost a son Louis, age 32 while working at the South Saskatchewan River Dam near Outlook. Two years later on July 1, 1967, Laura was saddened again when she lost another son, Archiel, age 21 while he was traveling to Plentywood, Montana. A daughter, Mathilda, age 18 was also one of the passengers. She was injured and remained in a coma until her passing on October 12, 1967. Laura often spoke of them.
In 1976, Laura and Joseph moved into the Golden Heritage. They were the first couple to move in. She enjoyed her years there and made many new friends.
On July 19, 1980 Laura and Joseph celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, surrounded by their children and grandchildren.
The years had gone by so quickly and so many relatives had passed on. Laura spent many afternoons reminiscing about the past. She was always interested in family history, so in 1980 Laura decided to start a record of the distant family branches. After the loss of her husband, Joseph on July 30, 1984, her book became a companion of many, many hours of thinking back and remembering when. It didn’t take long for Laura’s records to form the pages of a book. Laura’s dream was realized in 1985, when her book was published. Her book travels back thirteen generations to our ancestors Francois Bourassa-1659 and Marie Leber-1666, the first to migrate to Canada. Laura to date has five generations of her own. Laura chose to have her book published for her children, in hopes that they would keep it up.
Laura resided in the Golden Heritage until August of 1991, when she became a resident of the Radville Marian Health Centre where she resided for fourteen years until her passing.
Prayers were held on Thursday October 6, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. at The Holy Family Catholic Church, Radville, SK. Funeral Mass of the resurrection was held at 11:00 a.m. on October 7, 2005 celebrated by Fr. Prince. Interment at Laurier Cemetery in Radville, SK. Honorary Pallbearers were anyone who touched her life. Active Pallbearers were Laura’s grandson’s Maurice Bourassa, Marcel Porte, Daniel Bourassa, Robert Andries, Cory Bourassa, and Greg Storle.
Those wishing to express their sympathy may donate to the Radville Marian Health Centre (Activity Room).
My Mother
God wanted me to
Learn some things:
What joy a
Gentle touch can bring,
What kindness
And compassion do,
And how a firm hand helps us too;
What strength
There is in gentleness,
What power
Lies in a caress,
How one can
Show love for another,
And so he gave me you,
My Mother
Arrangements were in care of Fletcher Funeral Chapels, Weyburn, SK.