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On Friday, December 13, 2024, at Lambton Meadowview Villa, Petrolia, Grace Levesque (nee Sofraniuk), passed away at the age of 98. She was the beloved wife of the late Omer (2008). Grace was predeceased by her daughter Ruth (the late Harv) Howden (2005) and son John Levesque (2018) and will be dearly missed by her sons, Roger and Joan Levesque of Wilkesport, Jacques and Phyllis Levesque of Point Edward, and Gerry and Leslie Levesque of Petrolia, daughter-in-law Linda Levesque of London, grandchildren, Michael, Pat, Dennis, April, Sandy, Neil, Lisa, Robbie, and Kaelen and ten great grandchildren. Grace was the daughter of the late Annie and Michael Safroniuk and sister Elsie, George, Jessie, Marie, Bill, Zinna, and John.
Grace was born in January 1926 in Manitoba in a small community called Mountain Road. She was the youngest of 8 children. Her parents immigrated from Olchowec or Mielnico a district in Galicia Austria (presently western Ukraine). Her parents homesteaded the farm at NW25-17-17 on October 1st 1908. She talked of daily using a hand pump to get water for home and horses. Then as soon as she left home at 16 her father bought an electric pump. She had close ties with her family. Her 2 sisters moved with her to St. Catherines. They rented bicycles and explored life in the city. Grace was employed in making 5” shell casing for the war effort. She later moved to Trois Riviers where she packed parachutes. Life was exciting and somewhat scary with WW II in full motion. She met Omer, in those exciting years and became happily married.
They moved to New Brunswick where the first 4 children were born. Then they moved to Corunna where tales of Tuffy Truesdale, (the man who wrestled crocodiles) were very popular. The family then moved to Petrolia. The children played in the old candy factory and chased the truck carrying peas to the canning factory hoping to catch their share of drop offs.
Next stop was 468 Princess St. across from the park and nearby friends Marg Bradley and Dorothy Frawley. There were so many good friends in Petrolia. The Catholic Church was very important in Grace’s life. She was a long term member of the Catholic Women’s League and was so very proud when they presented her with a 75 year anniversary pin. Throughout the years they baked items to raise funds for charity and visited the elderly at Lambton Meadowview.
Grace also participated in and loved the horticultural society. She was fascinated by the variety of plants which she was able to cultivate. She entered contests and sometimes placed in the top three. She passed down some of her plants to her children. Then there was her knitting and crocheting…
We all will miss her.
Visitors will be received on Wednesday, December 18, 2024 from 2 to 4 pm at the Needham-Jay Funeral Home, 4059 Petrolia Line, Petrolia. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday, December 19, 2024 at 10:30 am from St. Philips Parish, King St. Petrolia. Interment in Mount Calvary Cemetery.
As expression’s of sympathy, memorial donations may be made St. Vincent’s DePaul Society or the Catholic Women’s League.`