Mavis Jaques

Mavis Jaques March 12, 1937 - November 8, 2015

Born in Maple Creek, Mavis Jean Jaques, née Anderson, grew up near Webb, SK. Mother Mary (Common) taught in nearby towns, and Swedish father Erick Anderson was railway section foreman. The section house had a barn, a few animals, and a big yard to play and dream in with sisters Shirley and Linda.

Leaving home at age 15 to attend Central High in Regina, Mavis certified as a Lab Technician and worked in hospitals across Saskatchewan.

She met husband Donald Jaques on a parade float: Mavis was a fantasy hula girl dancing in Don's dreams. Tall and smart and funny, Don could joke Mavis out of her serious focus. They married in 1959 and raised sons Kevin and Barton in Regina.

Passion for badminton and tennis brought home trophies from tournaments across western Canada. "At least TRY!" Mavis would taunt her teenage sons as she trounced them on court.

Mavis always tried. After family savings were invested in a small apartment block, Don's work took him out of town. Mavis was single parent, janitor, grounds keeper, repair woman, and landlord.

With Don back in Regina and sons graduated, Mavis savoured togetherness, and grandchildren, and travel. She loved eye-opening trips to Japan, Thailand, Bali, Jamaica, and elsewhere.

Cycling with Don one evening in 1997, Mavis saw him killed by a drunk driver. That trauma, with its anguishing court testimony and driver's acquittal, never fully healed. She slowly adjusted to life alone, meeting new friends, and working as museum guide and ESL mentor.

In 2010 she and four grandchildren made a long-dreamed pilgrimage to her dad's homeland Sweden, where Erick had 22 siblings. Mavis was thrilled to be welcomed by talented, accomplished cousins across the country.

Mavis loved horses, garden berries, backyard picnics, adult learning, coffee klatches, soft ice cream, clever sitcoms, swimming, tennis, and golf. She revered education and dedicated her savings to send grandchildren to university.

Colorectal cancer found in 2013 defied treatment, and spread. Mavis kept up her home and garden and gifts to grandchildren until she could no longer walk. She passed away peacefully November 8 in Regina.

She is mourned and missed by sisters Linda Anderson (Bill Dearborn) and Shirley (Edgar) Froese; sons Kevin (Paula Sostorics) and Barton (Michelle Floyd); grandchildren Natasha, Sam, Koa, and Camille; nieces and nephews Astrid Froese (Yves Carbonneau), Nora Froese (Chris Spicer), Kelly Slough (Ruth von Goeler), and Murray (Andrea) Slough.

Mavis was cremated but a memorial will be held Friday, November 27, at 2pm in Wesley Unity Church, 3913 Hillsdale Street, Regina. The family declines flowers. Memorial donations may be made to the Lifelong Learning Centre: 306-585-5748. Condolences may be posted at www.myalternatives.ca/regina/