Obituary of Elsie Packet

Elsie Elodie Packet of Lafleche, SK passed away on Friday, November 20, 2015, at the age of 96 years. Elsie was born to Harry and Louise Verhelst on May 3, 1919, in Meyronne, SK, and was the youngest of three siblings. The family moved to a farm north of Lafleche in 1923. Elsie attended Mathieu Convent, and after graduating from high school she went to Moose Jaw for teachers college. She taught for a number of years at local country schools, Happy Hill, Bonvouloir, and Valence. She loved teaching and enjoyed catching up with her former students later in life. Elsie married Jerome Packet on January 26, 1943, and they were blessed with four children. They purchased the Watchorn farm south of Melaval. Elsie loved life on the farm, and enjoyed talking about farming with her children and grandchildren. She was an excellent seamstress and would make dresses from her own patterns. Elsie was also an amazing cook, and would make huge meals to bring out to the field. Nobody ever went hungry with Elsie around, and she always had lots of delicious food on the table. Elsie was also a proud foster parent and shared stories with her family and friends of the difficulties in her foster children’s lives. Elsie was very kind hearted. Her priorities were family, God, and caring for or serving others. She was active on the Parish Council and a member of the CWL. She enjoyed bowling in Meyronne, playing cards with friends, and travelling. After 38 years on the farm Elsie and Jerome moved to Lafleche. Jerome passed away in 1992, but that didn’t stop Elsie from going back and forth to the farm and looking after meals in the field. She loved having her children and grandchildren stop in for visits. In her later years Elsie sometimes struggled with her memory, but her mind was amazing and very quick right to the end. She would keep busy with word books, crossword puzzles, reciting times tables, and she could still speak French and Flemish. Elsie’s legacy lives on through her family, and the values she instilled in each of them will impact them for many generations. Elsie will be missed, and always remembered, by her loving family and friends. Elsie is survived by her loving family, son Ben (Zoe) Packet, grandchildren Jeremy (Hope), Jennifer, Ashley; son Ken (Wenda) Packet, grandson Darcy (Shirley), great grandchildren Luke, Kai, Jesse, grandson Dexter (Lisa), great grandchildren Jaelynne, Dayton, Raela, grandson Troy (Jaime), great grandchildren Ryley, Zach, Hailey, grandson Kory (Jody), great grandchildren Tucker, Weston; daughter Marlene (Don) Bushell, grandson Dallas (Genelle), great grandchild Sawyer, grandson Calder (Nancy), great grandchild Parker, grandson Colby (Brittany), great grandchild Cohen, grandson Spencer; daughter Sharon (Mike) Sherven, grandchildren Krista, Scott (Colleen), Taylor (Joe), Garth (Tiffany); brother-in-law Maurice Andries. Predeceased by her husband of 49 years Jerome Packet; parents Harry and Louise (nee DeLaet) Verhelst; sister Gabrielle Verhelst; brother Albert Verhelst; father and mother-in-law Benoit and Eugenie (nee Syoen) Packet; sisters-in-law Dora (Vatamaniuck) Verhelst, Mary Lamont, Vera DeWulf, Julia Lesy, Madeleine Andries; brothers-in-law Julian DeWulf, Gilbert Lesy; nephews Ron Andries, Gerald DeWulf; niece Madeleine Oswald. Prayers were held on Friday, November 27, 2015, at 7:30 p.m., at Ste Radegonde Roman Catholic Church, Lafleche, SK. Presider was Larry Packet. Reader was Calder Chubey. Responsorial Psalm was read by Scott Sherven. Intentions were shared by Dallas Chubey. Pianists were Jeremy Packet and Ashley Packet. Funeral Mass was on Saturday, November 28, 2015, at 2:00 p.m., with Father Hope Klutsey and Father Maurice Minne celebrants. Cross bearer was Lawrence Verhelst. Altar server was Glenda Crooks. First reader was Colby Chubey, responsorial psalm was read by Krista Sherven, and second reader was Ashley Packet. Prayers of the faithful were shared by Taylor Sherven. Offerings were presented by Spencer Bushell and Garth Sherven. Communion minister was Agnes Smith. The eulogy was shared by Troy Packet. Music leader was Doreen Crooks, accompanied by organist Dan Phaneuf. Pianist was Jeremy Packet. Soloist Jaelynne Packet was accompanied by pianist Sherry Sproule. Pallbearers were Elsie’s grandchildren. Interment took place at the Lafleche Roman Catholic Cemetery. Memorial donations in memory of Elsie to Ste Radegonde Roman Catholic Church Restoration Fund, Box 518, Lafleche, SK S0H 2K0, and Masses, were greatly appreciated.