Francine Lyons
1940-11-07 2022-06-01
LYONS, Francine Elaine
It is with sadness that the family announces that after a long battle with health issues, mom passed away peacefully on June 1, 2022, at St. Paul's Hospital with her oldest son at her side.
Mom was born in Kelvington, Saskatchewan to John and Diane Horkoff on November 7, 1940. Mom was the oldest of four children, and at an early age took on the role of "mother" to her youngest sister Valerie, who was born with Downs Syndrome.
Mom spent the first seventeen years of her life on the family farm just outside of Kelvington, Saskatchewan. The family moved to Saskatoon in the fall of 1957, where mom attended Bedford Road Collegiate for grade 11, then moved over to Mount Royal Collegiate for her senior year. After high school, Mom attended Teacher's College where she anticipated having a long teaching career. However, at a fall dance, a certain gentleman caught mom's eye, and her life took a different turn. She married James Lyons on August 12, 1962, and soon welcomed their three sons into their life, Jeff, Scott, and Eric. The family moved to their Caswell Hill home in 1966, and it was soon a revolving door of activities with three very active boys.
While Mom was busy with her boys and their fury of activities, she managed to also work part-time at the Co-op, and then later in the record department at The Bay. Her boys loved going to visit her there, and never missed an opportunity to stop in for a chat and a malt. After the boys began their lives on their own, Mom started working full time for Janice McKinnon in the Caswell Constituency office, and then later for David Forbes. Mom was a strong NDP supporter not just in her work, but also in her daily activities. If she wasn't campaigning for a candidate, she was organizing her family members to get out and door knock.
Mom was an active participant in her boys' lives, even going so far as to step in and help coach ball teams when needed. Her sons were very important to her, and they always knew that Mom would do whatever was in her power to help them out with whatever issues they may be dealing with. Mom shone when her grandchildren were around, and a better grandmother would be hard to find. Though she was busy with her own job and activities, once she retired, all she wanted to do was spend time with her grandchildren. She spent many hours letting her youngest granddaughters dress her up, cast her in their movies, sleepovers, snuggles, tickles, and gave continuous, genuine, unconditional love.
Mom was an avid reader and had an extensive library of books that she happily donated to Abbeyfield House. She loved gardening and spent many years tending to her beautiful flower beds and her vegetable garden. She loved combining these activities with her grandchildren and looked forward to spending time planting and then later harvesting their goods together. Mom was a huge advocate for social justice programs, and spent many years volunteering for programs that her sister was involved in. She spent time at Easter Seal camps, and Cosmopolitan Industries events all to better the lives of those less fortunate.
Mom broke her hip in the fall of 2020, and then lost Dad to cancer in January of 2021. During this time Mom made the decision to move to an assisted living complex, Abbeyfield House. Mom instantly became friends with the other residents and was able to spend the next year enjoying their company. It was here that Mom made a special friend, Marcel Fast, who quickly became a close confidant.
Unfortunately, Mom's health began to decline, and things began to become unmanageable for mom. She spent the last ten days of life surrounded by her family. We are so blessed that we could spend this time with Mom, sharing stories, laughing, and crying together.
Left to mourn Mom's passing are her sons, Jeffrey, Scott, and Eric (Tracy). Her grandchildren, Aaron (Kerri), Jennifer (Chad), Evan (Sam), Sidney, Thaddeus, Taylor, Trent (Jenna), Sarah, Emily, and Elizabeth. Her great-granddaughter, Devyn. Sister Paulette Andrieu, and brother Terry Horkoff. Sister-in-law Marina Lyons, and brother-in-law Vernon Sheu, along with numerous nieces and nephews. Mom was predeceased by her husband James Vernon Lyons. Her parents, John and Diane Horkoff, and sister Valerie Horkoff. Her in-laws, Edward, and Annie Lyons. Brothers-in-law, Ken Lyons, and Frank Warbis. Sisters-in-law, Margaret Sheu, and Marion Warbis, and daughter-in-law Wendy Lyons.
The family would like to take this opportunity to thank the doctors and nurses on the seventh floor for the thoughtful care you gave Mom and each of us during our time there.
A Celebration of Mom's Life will take place on Monday, June 13, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. at Mayfair United Church located at 902 33 Street West, Saskatoon. Arrangements entrusted to Mourning Glory Funeral Services (306) 978-5200. To share memories of Francine or send condolences please visit www.mourningglory.ca
It is with sadness that the family announces that after a long battle with health issues, mom passed away peacefully on June 1, 2022, at St. Paul's Hospital with her oldest son at her side.
Mom was born in Kelvington, Saskatchewan to John and Diane Horkoff on November 7, 1940. Mom was the oldest of four children, and at an early age took on the role of "mother" to her youngest sister Valerie, who was born with Downs Syndrome.
Mom spent the first seventeen years of her life on the family farm just outside of Kelvington, Saskatchewan. The family moved to Saskatoon in the fall of 1957, where mom attended Bedford Road Collegiate for grade 11, then moved over to Mount Royal Collegiate for her senior year. After high school, Mom attended Teacher's College where she anticipated having a long teaching career. However, at a fall dance, a certain gentleman caught mom's eye, and her life took a different turn. She married James Lyons on August 12, 1962, and soon welcomed their three sons into their life, Jeff, Scott, and Eric. The family moved to their Caswell Hill home in 1966, and it was soon a revolving door of activities with three very active boys.
While Mom was busy with her boys and their fury of activities, she managed to also work part-time at the Co-op, and then later in the record department at The Bay. Her boys loved going to visit her there, and never missed an opportunity to stop in for a chat and a malt. After the boys began their lives on their own, Mom started working full time for Janice McKinnon in the Caswell Constituency office, and then later for David Forbes. Mom was a strong NDP supporter not just in her work, but also in her daily activities. If she wasn't campaigning for a candidate, she was organizing her family members to get out and door knock.
Mom was an active participant in her boys' lives, even going so far as to step in and help coach ball teams when needed. Her sons were very important to her, and they always knew that Mom would do whatever was in her power to help them out with whatever issues they may be dealing with. Mom shone when her grandchildren were around, and a better grandmother would be hard to find. Though she was busy with her own job and activities, once she retired, all she wanted to do was spend time with her grandchildren. She spent many hours letting her youngest granddaughters dress her up, cast her in their movies, sleepovers, snuggles, tickles, and gave continuous, genuine, unconditional love.
Mom was an avid reader and had an extensive library of books that she happily donated to Abbeyfield House. She loved gardening and spent many years tending to her beautiful flower beds and her vegetable garden. She loved combining these activities with her grandchildren and looked forward to spending time planting and then later harvesting their goods together. Mom was a huge advocate for social justice programs, and spent many years volunteering for programs that her sister was involved in. She spent time at Easter Seal camps, and Cosmopolitan Industries events all to better the lives of those less fortunate.
Mom broke her hip in the fall of 2020, and then lost Dad to cancer in January of 2021. During this time Mom made the decision to move to an assisted living complex, Abbeyfield House. Mom instantly became friends with the other residents and was able to spend the next year enjoying their company. It was here that Mom made a special friend, Marcel Fast, who quickly became a close confidant.
Unfortunately, Mom's health began to decline, and things began to become unmanageable for mom. She spent the last ten days of life surrounded by her family. We are so blessed that we could spend this time with Mom, sharing stories, laughing, and crying together.
Left to mourn Mom's passing are her sons, Jeffrey, Scott, and Eric (Tracy). Her grandchildren, Aaron (Kerri), Jennifer (Chad), Evan (Sam), Sidney, Thaddeus, Taylor, Trent (Jenna), Sarah, Emily, and Elizabeth. Her great-granddaughter, Devyn. Sister Paulette Andrieu, and brother Terry Horkoff. Sister-in-law Marina Lyons, and brother-in-law Vernon Sheu, along with numerous nieces and nephews. Mom was predeceased by her husband James Vernon Lyons. Her parents, John and Diane Horkoff, and sister Valerie Horkoff. Her in-laws, Edward, and Annie Lyons. Brothers-in-law, Ken Lyons, and Frank Warbis. Sisters-in-law, Margaret Sheu, and Marion Warbis, and daughter-in-law Wendy Lyons.
The family would like to take this opportunity to thank the doctors and nurses on the seventh floor for the thoughtful care you gave Mom and each of us during our time there.
A Celebration of Mom's Life will take place on Monday, June 13, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. at Mayfair United Church located at 902 33 Street West, Saskatoon. Arrangements entrusted to Mourning Glory Funeral Services (306) 978-5200. To share memories of Francine or send condolences please visit www.mourningglory.ca