Betty Jane Fillion

Betty Jane Fillion with her family by her side, passed away on January 7, 2025 at the St. Boniface Hospital. Mark (son) and Deborah (daughter) would like to thank everyone for their visits, phone calls, text messages, well wishes and prayers during her short time in the St. Boniface Hospital; they comforted her and her family daily.

Betty is now reunited with her husband and best friend, Edgar Fillion. She will be received with open arms in heaven by her mother & father (Evelyne & Rene Sabourin), her mother & father in-laws (Rose & Edward Fillion) and many other special loved ones including her grandmother (Alma Sabourin).

Betty Jane was known for her love of chatting and visiting. No matter the topic she wanted to hear everyone’s news, down to the smallest details.

Betty was a kind spirited woman to everyone she met. In her family, community, gatherings or simply waiting in long lines at the grocery store – she never got upset; she would just spark up a friendly conversation. She was a wealth of topical knowledge, from the daily news to the newspaper, she was always in the know and ready to share any new advice. She was like a computer retaining any date you were curious about from everyone’s birthdays, life events and funerals to the big local storm dates of past years. despite this, she could still be heard saying “oh I am not smart enough to play those games” from the sidelines of many family card games.

Her love for children was evident. Not only for the love she shone everyday on her son and daughter but for every child she ever babysat. She babysat them all; her brother & sisters, the neighbourhood children, her nieces & nephews, grand-children and great grand-children. In her earlier days her home was warmed with the love she gave to many foster children. Her doors were always open with her Friday ritual of homemade buns for supper, daily baking of cookies, her famous chocolate cake or the boysenberry slice loved by the neighbourhood children. During the early years of her marriage her home was a second home retreat for sisters Susan, Bonnie and fun holiday retreat for sister Lyndis and her nursing friends. There was always a good time to be had whether it was sing-a-longs in front of the stereo or an evening out at a wedding social where mom would dance old time waltzes and polkas all night.

If there were no visitors expected for the weekend then off to the beach we would go for the day or for a weekend planned camping trip to St. Malo, Falcon Lake or West Hawk Lake. It was a great escape for us all since mom had everything so well organized. Visits to her hometown were special events in Grand Forks or Fargo with grand daughter (Nicole) as the reliable navigator so Edgar and Betty would arrive on time.

Even though busy ensuring her home was warm, clean and welcoming, mom wanted to reach out to the community as well, volunteering at Victoria Hospital to enhance her daily life.

Betty was born in Grafton ND. In her youth she spent much of her time communing with her paternal grandmother or helping her own mother with the house and children. She was even known to help out around the farm, namely driving truck or tractor for her father. This was an activity she spoke of fondly and when given the chance to hop into a tractor a few years ago she climbed right in like a 16 year old girl.

In her more recent years after her husband Edgar passed away she experienced daily enjoyment from her pet companion Dexter (a schnauzer). She looked forward to being taken out for regular “Carlson” shopping trips with Donna/Nicole/Harlynn, visits with her son Mark when he came over to help maintain her yard, USA trips with Deborah to see her siblings, nieces and nephews where there would great memorable laughs and enjoyable conversations until the wee hours of the morning, visits from Shawna popping in at anytime, collecting Christmas tokens from Deborah’s Christmas meals, Lynsey’s sporadic phone calls (both being night owls). Phone calls became her daily relief more recently. Specifically, the late-night calls with her best friend Lorraine, sometimes lasting until the sunrise, weekly phone calls from Huguette along with many other regular phone calls.

Betty-Jane had many moments of joys, mainly with her great-grandchildren. She would go on afternoon babysitting trips to see how Laysey, Lyvia and Layne were changing and getting to see Harlynn at school performances. She loved maintaining her pink flowers that popped up each year at the side of her house, Sunday ice-cream cone drives, her scheduled phone calls from volunteer programs, babysitting Aspen (family dog) and special events like family picnics or birthday parties where she could visit and see her sisters, brother-in-laws, sister-in-law, nieces and nephews she had not seen for awhile.

So many memorable memories that will be cherished forever.

Mom you will be sadly missed. Betty-Jane will be sadly missed by her son Mark Fillion (Donna Carlson), daughter Deborah Giesbrecht (David Fournier), grand-children Nicole Fillion, Lynsey Giesbrecht, Shawna Giesbrecht, and great-grand children Harlynn, Laysey, Lyvia and Layne along with her brother Marcel Sabourin (Trudy), sisters Lyndis Lewco (John), Susan Rogers (Wally), Bonnie Lindsey, Anna Mae Gerszewski, sister-in-law Connie Fillion, several god-children, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and cherished best friend “sister” for over half a century Lorraine Kolthof (Auntie Lorraine) and Hank & Lorraine’s children and families.

A special thank you to the neighbours that would clear her sidewalks in the winter to her surprise and delight. Thank you to Gerry for the numerous rides to appointments and to Don for helping maintain the house after Edgar’s passing.

The family would also like to thank Dr. Permack for his ongoing care and the St. Boniface Hospital ER & 4th floor nurses, aides, and doctors.

Mom - Love You Forever, Thank You for A Loving Caring Home And All Your Support Throughout the Years!

Funeral mass will be held at Thomson In The Park at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 25th.

If so desired, donations may be made in Betty's name to the Winnipeg Humane Society.