Ellen Jean Franchuk

Ellen Jean Franchuk

August 14, 1922 to March 31, 2013

Jean, as she was known to her friends, passed away peacefully at her residence at Pinecrest Home on Easter Sunday, March 31st, 2013.

She is survived by her son Bill Jr., her niece Lorna Skuta in Thunder Bay and her niece Sandra Knight in Ottawa, as well as family in Thunder Bay, Winnipeg and eastern Ontario. She was predeceased by her parents Nell and Walter, her husband Bill and her son Stefan. She also leaves behind close friends in Sioux Narrows, Kenora and across Canada and the U.S.

Jean was born in Winnipeg but spent all of her early and teen years in Kenora. She attended Central School and graduated from Lakewood High School in 1939. During the Second World War she resided in Thunder Bay where she worked at Canada Car, alongside others from Kenora, for the war effort. After the war she returned to Kenora where she met her future husband Bill. Despite their differing backgrounds, Jean was a Lakeside girl and Bill was from the North End – they married on March 5, 1945. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Sioux Narrows where they worked for Mrs. Metcalf at what is now Totem Lodge. In 1946 they decided to strike out on their own and built Franchuks Camp on an island in Long Bay. For many years, Jean was the cook, housekeeper, book keeper and hostess to guests from across the continent. Many of whom became life long friends.

In 1966, Bill and Jean sold the camp and moved to the mainland on Long Bay where Jean was delighted to have a modern house without a wood stove. At this point, Jean was finally able to persuade Bill to start travelling and they took their first trip to Hawaii. This three week adventure resulted in them developing a love for the place and they spent a lot of the next 20 or so winters there. During the summers after they sold their camp Jean first worked for 8 years as the secretary treasurer of Father Moss School. After that she worked in a variety of places including the newly opened Blue Heron, the Sioux Gift Shop, the Sioux Sport Shop, the Chamber of Commerce and the Bait Farm. She also taught for Confederation College in Lansdowne House. However, she often said that her favourite job was the years that she spent at the Bait Farm working for Jerry Schulz. Jean always worked the morning shift and sold minnows and licences to a great many fishermen.

Jean was an active part of many community organizations in Sioux Narrows over the years including the Ladies Auxilliary at Father Moss School, the local Ratepayers Association, the United Church Women, the Historical Society, the Curling Club and the Sunrise Echoes Seniors Club. She loved gardening and spent many summer hours tending to her flowers. She also loved cats and was never without one.

After Bill passed away in 1989, Jean stayed in the house on Long Bay and finally sold it in 1995, then moving to Kenora. That attempt at relocating lasted less than a year and she moved back to Sioux Narrows where she spent the next 8 years in a spacious apartment behind the Sioux Narrows Builders Supply. During this time she rediscovered her love of travelling and travelled to Las Vegas, South America, the Caribbean and across Canada and the U.S. She also took several cruises through the Panama Canal, to Hawaii, to Alaska and every corner of the Caribbean. Jean travelled sometimes with friends from Sioux Narrows or from the United States, but was not afraid to strike off on her own to a new location.

In 2004, Jean decided to try moving to Kenora again and this time the move was permanent as she took up residence in Laverendrye Apartments where she made some good friends and joined their informal tea group as well as the local chapter of the Red Hat Society. Her travelling continued and she made three trips to Cuba after she turned 80, as well as her first trip to Ottawa. Although she had decided to remain living in Kenora, her heart was always in Sioux Narrows and she returned often to visit friends and attend her Church. After she quit driving, she often went down on Sundays with Jim and Cory Johansen to attend Church and then go for Lunch at Crystal Harbour.

In 2010 Jean moved briefly to Gardner Block, and then to Pinecrest Home. She grudgingly allowed her cat Nikki to relocate to her son Bills house. During her time at Pinecrest she stayed in touch with her friends from Sioux Narrows and Kenora. She was persuaded to help at a few Pinecrest bakesales by doing some knitting and she always freely offered advice on baking and bakesales. She spent many afternoons in the coffee shop talking to visitors and other residents and was pleased to reunite with some childhood friends.

Jeans health declined rapidly after January 2013 and finally, on Easter Sunday, she peacefully went to sleep and didn’t wake up again. She is now reunited with Bill. A big Thank You to all the staff at Pinecrest Home, especially to the staff on Unit Two, for the excellent personal care that Mom received during her time there.

A Celebration of Jeans Life will be held at Lake of the Woods Chapel in Sioux Narrows at 2:00 pm on May 17th 2013. Private burial will follow later at Pine Ridge Cemetery in Sioux Narrows. In lieu of flowers, donations in Jeans memory to the United Church in Sioux Narrows or to the Cat Shelter in Kenora would be appreciated.

Online condolences may be made at www.brownfuneralhomekenora.com

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