The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Josephine (Josie) deVries of Flin Flon passed away Monday, May 17, 2004 at the age of 90 years. She was born to parents Martin and Eva Wysoski on March 15, 1914 in Oakshella, Saskatchewan. Josie grew up on a farm with her siblings - three brothers and five sisters. In the late '20s Josie came to Flin Flon where she took odd jobs housecleaning and babysitting. It was there she met George deVries and they were married December 20, 1941. Josie and George had four children: Johnny, Georgina, Evelina and Berndina. They were always there for their children and rarely had babysitters as their outings were mainly family oriented. Josie's father Martin came to live with them in Flin Flon and bought them the house at 45 Boam Street. Both George and Josie loved gardening and had gardens at their home on Boam Street, one in Channing and another at their cottage on Lake Athapap. Josie liked all of the children in the neighbourhood. She was well known for her donuts and jam busters, feeding all the kids after school. In the winter after tobogganing or skating, Josie always had a pot of hot chocolate and salmon sandwiches for the kids. Josie always had an open door policy. No matter if you were a friend or a stranger she always had a seat at her table and a warm welcome for you. Josie and George were always entertaining their friends at their house and at their cottage on the lake. A great joy in Josie's life was the love she had for her grandchildren. Whether she was bouncing them on her knee or teaching them something new, it all brought her such joy. Josie had many friends in her lifetime; one devoted friend of 64 years was Tillie Potkonjak. Tillie and Josie spent many happy hours together. Josie is predeceased by: her husband George deVries; son-in-law Rick Switzer; brothers Leo, Henry, Joe, Walter and Tony Wysoski; sisters Kathleen Wysoski, Mary Lichacz, Anne McCarron, Clara Marceau and Frances Steckler. She is survived by her children: John deVries and Dorothy, Georgina Switzer, Evelina deVries, Berndina and Chuck McLean; seven grandchildren; three great grandchildren; her sisters Helen and Edward Sosna, and Rose Sirman; and numerous nieces and nephews. Mass of Christian Burial was Friday, May 21, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. from St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church with Father Denis Bourbonnais OMI, as Celebrant. Honourary pallbearers were Tillie Potkonjak and Jean Hook. Active pallbearers were Gordon Thompson, Larry Willerton, Erhart Dzubiak, Don Rose, Ron Potkonjak and Fred Sattelberger. Ushers were John Paskiw and Brad Clarke. The memorial register attendants were Donna Paskiw and Terry Fehr. A Remembrance of Josephine was presented by Gail Anderson: I would like to now pay tribute to Josie with a few words of my own. Today is a gathering of family members and friends in tribute to Josie. It is a celebration of her life and the wonderful memories she has left each of us with. I salute you Josie and I will not forget the laughter and warm visits we had together each time I stopped by to do your hair. Josie always intrigued me with her stories of days gone by and the ways of life back then. She would explain to me the hardships with her vision not being quite what it should, but she never let it get her down. Josie loved music and she loved to sing. During the course of the time it took me to cut and perm her hair, we would sing songs together. Sometimes, if she would forget the words, she would say to me, "Keep singing, Gail." Josie was my only fan! When it came to the song "You Are My Sunshine" - that girl never missed a word She knew them all and she truly was a ray of sunshine. Josie knew I was of Ukrainian background and so I must like perogies, and therefore, nothing would do but I should stay and have lunch with her. Of course, if you have ever tasted Josie's perogies, you would know it did not take a lot of arm twisting. She would go down the stairs to the basement freezer, just like a little homing pigeon, guiding herself along with her hands and up she would come with the perogies. She would cook them and say, "Eat, eat, Gail." God bless her. She made me smile. Rest peacefully Josie. Your time here was long and you have left so many people with a warm remembering smile. Following interment at Hillside Cemetery, the Catholic Women's League served a lunch at the Parish Hall. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made to the Flin Flon Personal Care Home, c/o Flin Flon General Hospital Business Office, P.O. Box 240, Flin Flon. Dadson Funeral Home was entrusted with the arrangements. 687-5821
