JEAN PURMAL

1907 ~ 2012 Jean Purmal passed away Thursday, August 23, 2012 at the amazing age of 105 years.  She was predeceased by her husband, Fred in 1956, and her son, Constantine on Oct.

13, 2007; her parents, Levrenti & Diekla (nee Seminak) Stemkowski and her brother, Alexander.  She leaves behind her close friends, Maria Collard, Janet & Harry Poulos, Jean Christensen, Della Chrisp, Margie Krizsan, Laurel Fenty, Marilyn Leis , Mel & Gladys Sackman, Freda Rataushk, Ida Heidenger and the many staff and residents of Masterpiece.  Jean was born January 10, 1907 in Russia and came to Canada in 1912 at the age of 5 with her parents and brother.  They settled in the Maple Creek area and as there was no school nearby at that time, she was 14 before she attended school and completed grades 1, 2 & 3 in a few months.  Jean married Fred Purmal in 1928 and they farmed and lived on the Purmal homestead near Little Plume, Southern Alberta for several years and then moved into Medicine Hat.  Her son Con, was born December 13, 1930.  Jean worked for 14 years at Ogilvie Mills and also in several restaurants in the city. She was a hard working independent lady.  When her last boss Maggie Vernriper died, Jean decided to retire at the age of 72 and start collecting her old age pension.  She was a great gardener. At the age of 99 when her son needed long term care she sadly had to give up her home and garden and move with him to Masterpiece Retirement Home.  The year Jean turned 100, her son died but she continued to live a very independent life until 10 days before her death.  A Graveside Celebration of Jean’s Life will be held at Hillside Cemetery on Thursday, August 30, 2012, at 1:00 P.M. with Mr. Harvey Maurer officiating.  (The procession to Hillside will depart from Cook Southland Funeral Chapel at 12:50 P.M.)  After the Graveside, a Memorial Service and luncheon will be held at the Masterpeice Retirement Residence, 4 River Ridge Drive N.W., at 2:00 P.M. (Condolences may be expressed by visiting www.cook southland.com)  Honoured to serve the family is Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, 901 – 13th Street S.W.   Medicine Hat, Alberta   T1A 4V4  Phone 403-527-6455