Pauline Mary Marguerite Pauline Rousseau Berger Rousseau

Pauline was born August 25, 1927 to Sylvain and Marguerite (nee Halbardier) Berger and was raised on the family farm three miles north of Fife Lake, Saskatchewan. Pauline was the fifth child in her family of eight. She grew up playing and sledding in the hills around the farm with her siblings and attended Bannerman School, approximately a three mile walk west of home.

In February of 1948, Pauline married Jean Marc (Johnny) Rousseau and moved to the Tamassey Farm. Pauline and Johnny lived on a couple of different farms before settling into the Village of Fife Lake, where they ran a restaurant for a number of years. Pauline and Johnny had five children, whom they raised on the present Rousseau Family Farm, north-east of Fife Lake. Her years on the farm were cherished ones. She loved raising her own chickens and ducks, milking cows and making her own butter. Pauline also had a green thumb and a passion for gardening, so much so that she had Johnny till her enormous garden with his cultivator every year in preparation for her ‘seeding’. She gardened up until 2009. Pauline also enjoyed cooking, canning, baking and delivering hot meals to the field during her years living on the farm. Pauline and Johnny loved to entertain, and always enjoyed the company of good friends and family all year round.

In 1979, Pauline and Johnny retired the family home on the farm and moved to Coronach, where Pauline was employed as a cook for several years at the local Hotel. But Pauline preferred life on the farm and even following their move to Town, Pauline and Johnny continued to work the land and remained very active with the farm life for many years until Johnny’s death in 1988. Pauline moved to Coronach Heritage Square twelve years later, where she lived until the present.

Pauline loved puzzles and games. She especially enjoyed a good game of cards and over the years she became a difficult opponent to beat at several of them! She became a regular at the weekly ‘Bingos’ in both Coronach and Fife Lake for several years, and most recently looked forward to her Saturday Night TV Bingos. She made sure she had the phone off the hook and was always ready to go a half hour before game time. Another favourite pastime was Yahtzee, which she enjoyed playing with her son, Claude every morning coffee and chit chat. Other hobbies included sewing, crocheting and quilting. Pauline made quilts and rugs for each and every one of her children and grandchildren. Her latest craft had been crocheting plastic carry bags for everyone. Pauline enjoyed attending her grandchildren’s sporting activities, music recitals, and other special events and often spoke of how much she liked listening to her twin great-granddaughters Keely and Lesley sing. Pauline loved music and she was skilled at playing the guitar and violin. Coffee and visits with friends were always a welcomed pastime.

Pauline was predeceased by her parents, Sylvain and Marguerite Berger, her husband Johnny; her brothers Leon (his wife Della), Henry, and Isodore Berger; her sister Jean (husband Paul Duppereault); her brothers-in-law Pat Murphy and Marcel Granger; her sister-in-law Salonge (and husband Eric Bergeron); her mother and father-in-law Rose and Armond Rousseau and baby sister-in-law Paulette Rousseau.

Pauline is survived by her sisters, Irene Granger of Wataskawin, AB and Marguerite Murphy of Penticton, BC; one brother Sylvain (Lynda) Berger of Fife Lake, SK; her five children: Claude (Valerie) Rousseau of Coronach, SK, Annette (Mike) Johnson of Brooks, AB, Daniel Rousseau (Elaine Stevens) of Kamloops, BC, Francine Rousseau (Steve Maitland) of Oliver, BC and Renee (Greg) Willford of Coronach; her grandchildren: Clayton Rousseau (Yvonne Samuelson), Rebecca Rousseau (Dean Tayler), Tyson (Shelly) Rousseau, Shawn (Mellissa) Johnson, Michelle (Craig) Olsen, Chad (Rhonda) Johnson, Wade Johnson, Jeremy Rousseau, Joshua Rousseau, Giselle Gartner, Joe Gartner, Christy Gartner, Travis Willford (Kaylee Faford), Bryce Willford, Justin Willford and Danette Willford; her great-grandchildren: Chantelle, Keely, Lesley Rousseau; Tristin, Mekhi, Ashton, Kali Rousseau; Jordan, Alexandra, Cassandra Olsen; Kaden and Brandon Johnson; Lyric, Damian and Kara Gartner as well as numerous nephews, nieces, neighbors and friends.

Prayer Vigil was held Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 7:30 pm and Funeral Mass was celebrated Friday, December 31, 2010 at 11:00 am, both services held at Our Lady of Perpetual Help R.C. Church, Coronach, SK. Father Joseph Thundathil and Father Joseph Strohhofer Celebrants. Shawn and Clayton placed the Pall. Tyson lit the Pascal Candle. Honorary Pallbearers were: “All of her Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren”. Pallbearers were Grandsons: Shawn Johnson, Chad Johnson, Clayton Rousseau, Tyson Rousseau, Travis Willford, and Bryce Willford. Readers were Chantelle Rousseau and Danette Willford. Music Ministry was led by organist Janet England. Keely and Lesley Rousseau sang “Grandma” and “You Raise Me Up”. Masses or donations in Memory of Pauline can be made to the SK Cancer Agency or the Coronach Health Centre Auxiliary. Interment in the Coronach Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Ross Funeral Service, Assiniboia, SK