Yvonne Georgette DeBruyne

Yvonne Georgette DeBruyne, late of Radville, SK, passed away on October 28, 2024 at the age of 102 years and 6 months.

She was predeceased by her parents, Maurice and Rosalie Craeyveldt; loving husband Marshall in 2002; infant daughter, Mary Ann in 1946;Grandson, Maury in 1987; granddaughter, Shelley Ann in 1988; son in law, Allan Weise in 2010 and sisters, Julie Craeyveldt and Marie Nimegeers.

Yvonne is survived and will be lovingly remembered by her children: Lorraine Weise of Gibbons, AB; Maurice DeBruyne (Debbie MacRae) of Mainprize Park, SK; Darlene (Roland) Carles of Radville, SK; 7 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, 17 great great grandchildren and two on the way; sister, Rose DeBruyne as well as many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Yvonne was born in the district of Shergrove, MB on April 19th, 1922 to Rosalie and Maurice Craeyveldt.

Her dad decided to move to Saskatchewan to find work. In time he rented land and moved his family to the Daleview Area- South and East of Ceylon, SK in 1932. At that time his family was his wife and 3 daughters. Marie was 11.5 years old, Yvonne was 10 years old and Rose was only 8 months old. Their belongings were shipped by train.

Before Yvonne was even 10 years old, her grandpa Gronenschild taught her how to milk a cow and her mother taught her to crochet making a bread spread.

Once in Saskatchewan they attended school at Round-up (a country school) walking 3.5 miles there and back.

In 1935 another daughter, Juliette was added to the family. Yvonne remembers doing home work by a dim coal oil lamp. She had many jobs on the farm, milking cows before and after school. In the thirties, she remembers cutting and raking Russian thistles to feed the cows putting salt in between layers to prevent mold. They had to wear boys work boots with rubber sealer rings to keep their pant legs down, and spreading grasshopper poison by hand. She quit school after grade 8, to help on the farm along with her sister Marie.

 They were the hired hands, working in the fields. Yvonne would harrow with four horses, walking behind the harrows. Her and Marie would take a wagon load of grain to Gladmar pulled by horses and bring back a load of coal from the coal mine for winter fuel for the furnace. They also picked dried cow chips (which was a dried cow patty) and put them in an upside down wagon box to burn in the cook stove to cook and bake in winter months. They also forked hay into stacks, stooked and helped with harvest.

In 1937 Prosper DeBruyne died in a Saskatchewan snow storm on Feb 14. Yvonne’s dad sat with the body for 3 days before the funeral, so Mrs. DeBruyne sent her son Marshall to help with the chores.  At this time, she was still in school and he’d have her horse ready with a bag of oats for the horse tied to the saddle. 

When she was 15, they started to date.  And in Feb. 1942, they were married.  Within the next 8 years, they had a family of four.  Lorraine (April 1942); Maurice (Sept. 1943); Mary Ann (March 31, passed on April 10, 1946) and Darlene (Feb. 1949).

Yvonne’s mom and dad (due to health), moved to Radville in 1945.  So Yvonne and Marshall then rented this land and in 1949 they bought it.  Yvonne worked hard – milking cows; they had chickens and pigs.  Also a large garden, strawberry patch and lots of flowers.  Carrying and straining water from sleuth to wash clothes. And at times hauling drinking water.  In 1973 (due to health) they retired, sold their land to Maurice and moved to Radville.  She still had a nice garden and lots of beautiful flowers. 

She loved to crochet; embroider; quilt and sew.  When we were young – she sewed all our clothes and taught us to do some too!

They enjoyed their grandchildren and weekends at Main Prize Park – fishing.  They had 60 years of marriage.  Marshall passed in 2002, she stayed in her house until 2011.  Prior to that – she had both knees replaced at the same time and also breast cancer. But over came it all. 

In 2011, she sold her house and moved into the Golden Heritage.  That’s when I said to her, “Mom, you should write your life story. She didn’t say anything then in 2016 – she handed me 56 pages.  Yep, her story.  All in her hand writing.  I finally put it all together and after tons of photo copying, 20 books for all her kids and grandkids.

In December 2017, she broke her hip and had a full hip replacement.  She needed care, so got a room in the Pangman Care Home in Feb. 2018 where she loved it.  When it closed she was transferred to Weyburn Care Home for 6 months.  Then got a room in Radville Marian Home (she was finally back home) until her passing October 28, 2024.  The exact date her Dad passed 40 years prior on October 28, 1984. 

While in the care homes she read, did word search, made oven towels, dishcloths, crochet little angles and snowflakes and suit case tassels for her family.  She suffered with hearing loss. And more recently her eyes where she could no longer see enough to continue her hobbies.

Our mother was loving, caring, never complained. Took everything in stride and was a mother figure to many.

The family would like to thank all of Yvonne’s family and friends for the visits and phone calls over the years.  Also would like to say thanks to all the care home workers who gave her such wonderful care.  You were like family to her and to us. 

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Wednesday, November 6, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. from the Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Radville, SK with celebrant Father Okafor. Pallbearers were: Carey Carles, Tyler Carles, Don Weise, Warren Weise, Lane Carles and Austen Carles.

Interment was held at the Laurier Cemetery, Radville, SK. luncheon followed at the Holy Family Roman Catholic Church Hall, Radville, SK.

For family and friends so wishing, charitable donations in memory of  Yvonne may be made to the Radville & District Health Centre Foundation Box 310, Radville, SK S0C 2G0.

For those wishing to attend virtually, please follow the live stream video by opening Yvonne’s memorial page on RD Family Funeral Chapel’s website starting at 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday, November 6, 2024.