With sadness the family of Jean Borsa announces her passing on August 28, 2019 at the age of 97.

Born in the Honeymoon district in Saskatchewan to Ukrainian immigrant parents, Alexander and Mary Sarabin, Jean was the 5th of 8 children. Her life was characterized by hard work and her kind and gentle nature.

Jean left home at age 18, at the start of World War II and went to Toronto to visit her sister. She worked in a factory sewing clothes and met her future husband Bohdan (Buck) Borsa who was in the air force at the time. They married on August 29, 1943 and upon Buck’s release from the RCAF in 1946 they moved to Smoky Burn in north east Saskatchewan to start a new life. They were married 67 years when Buck passed away in 2011.

Jean worked hard her whole life, raising 4 children, growing huge vegetable gardens, canning and preserving for the winter months and in the winter holding down the fort on the farm while Buck worked away from home at a sawmill.

Jean had a strong love of music and had a lovely singing voice. She sang at many weddings as a soloist and sang in the United Church choir for many years. She had a strong faith in God and attended church regularly.

Jean was a wonderful seamstress and sewed beautiful clothes for all four of her children. She was always active in church and community and taught Sunday School for many years. She helped to implement the Girl Guide program in Smoky Burn and was a Brownie leader for several years. Jean was an active member of the UCW and the Women’s Auxiliary to the Canadian Legion, taking on executive positions as needed.

She loved her family and was always happiest when she could cook for everyone.

Jean is survived by three of her four children, Joyce Fox (Murray), Doug Borsa (Alice) and Andy Borsa (Elva). She also leaves 10 grandchildren, twenty great grandchildren and son in law Glen Straker. She was predeceased by her parents, all her siblings, her husband Buck and daughter Beverly Straker.