ALICE JEAN GRAHAM CRERAR (LEASK)

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ALICE JEAN GRAHAM CRERAR (nee LEASK) Peacefully, at Russell, Man. on Friday December 15, 2000, at the age of 76 years. Jean was born on August 26, 1924, at Drem (near Edinburgh), Scotland, the youngest daughter of Alexander and Janet Leask. During the Second World War she met her future husband Robert, a Canadian serviceman who visited at her familys home. Jean received her teachers training at Moray House College, spent several months in Norway as a governess, then taught in Edinburgh for one year. In 1950, she immigrated to Canada and taught nursery school in Ottawa for one year. In 1952 she married Robert Crerar, who was now farming at Binscarth, Man. Jean was a busy farm wife, a capable homemaker, and a wise and loving mother of three. She was a pillar of the Binscarth Anglican church, and taught Sunday School there for many years. She was also active in the United Church Womens Guild and a frequent visitor to the ill and the elderly. Jean and Robert had many happy years on the farm before retiring to Binscarth in 1991. After Robert passed away in 1996, Jean moved into the Russell and District Personal Care Home. Here she found a true home: the residents and kind and caring staff and volunteers welcomed her as a familiar friend. She could always be counted on to give a warm and enthusiastic welcome to the various choirs, carollers and musicians who visited the Home with the gift of music. Jean was able to keep mentally agile, memorizing inspirational passages and bible verses and continued to visit, comfort and help others to the best of her ability all the days of her life. In addition to her beloved Robert, Jean was predeceased by her mother Janet (Rutherford) in 1971, and her father Alexander in 1973. She is survived and lovingly remembered by daughter Lorna (Glenn) Hawley and sons, Stewart and Bill. Also sisters Maisie (Jim) Rannie of Binscarth and Florence (Johnnie) Powell of Cornwall, England and brother James Leask of Edinburgh, Scotland, as well as brother-in-laws, Graham Crerar and Albert Poole of Binscarth. Also several nephews and nieces and their children. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 19 at St. Matthews Anglican Church in Binscarth, Rev. John Doloff officiating. Interment of ashes will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 20 at the Binscarth cemetery. Braendle-Bruce Funeral service in charge of arrangements. If friends desire, donations may be made in Jeans memory to the Canadian Cancer Society, or to a charity of their choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 19, 2000