August 11, 1929 - September 2, 2019
Jean Lillie Sacenieks nee Paul passed away in Creston BC on September 2, 2019 at the age of 90. She was born in Turner Valley Alberta on August 11, 1929. The family moved to Creston in 1943 where she graduated from grade 12. Later that year Jean married Phillip Stace-Smith and they had two children together. One of her jobs during this time was running the company store on a floating fish camp near Langara BC during the summer. Jean lost Phil to a work-related boating accident on Kootenay Lake in 1956.
Jean married Phil's brother Joe in 1958 and she moved to Prince Rupert where Joe lived. She lost Joe to a boating accident in 1959. Her third child arrived two months later. She was widowed twice by the time she was 29. From Rupert she moved to Deep Cove where she owned and operated a variety store. She found running the store too tough to be a good single parent, so she sold the store, moving first to Vancouver, and then back to
Creston.
The sixties saw the birth of her fourth child and in 1968 marriage to Alfred Sacenieks. They were together for over 40 years before his passing. She was mostly a homemaker during this time which allowed her to parent full time, volunteer with various organizations and pursue her creative
passions.
Jean had three main passions in her later life: her family, birds, and quilting. She enjoyed her backyard sunroom where she fed and observed birds for many years. She was an active member of the local birdwatching group and passed the birding passion onto several members of her family. After trying her hand at many creative pursuits from wood carving to oil painting, she found her true creative passion in quilting. She produced many quilts and quilted art over 35 years and won two Canadian Quilting awards.
Jean welcomed the opportunity to travel later in life. The trip she made with her best friend Kath Hood to South Africa, Madagascar, and Kenya in
2000 was the highlight.
Jean was predeceased by husbands Phillip Stace-Smith, Joe Stace-Smith, and Alfred Sacenieks, parents Stanley and Irene Paul, and brother James
Paul.
Jean is survived by her four children: son Donald Stace-Smith, daughters Dorothy Edwards (Jim), Jo Ellen Floer (Dave) and Kristine Sacenieks (Gary), grandchildren Owen Edwards (Amanda), Elaina Englesby (Will), Dale Floer (Holly), and Erica Rose (Matt), and great grandchildren, Elysse, Ethan, Logan, James, and Allison.
The service was held in Creston on Friday September 13th at the G.F. Oliver Funeral Chapel. Interment followed at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Erickson.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area, PO Box 640, Creston BC V0B 1G0.