MANEGRE : Eva Iola (Yola) Manegre, (nee Roberge) died May 6, 2011, at Villa Pascal, North Battleford, Sk. At the age of 93 years. Eva was born September 20, 1917 on the family homestead, near Ponteix, Sk. Eva is survived by her daughter, Rosalie (Bill) Jarvis of Cochin, Sk.; son Ted (Linda) Manegre of North Battleford, Sk.; 5 grand-children: Barry (Viviane) Jarvis; Carrie (John) King; Margo (Randy) Redelback; Cheryl Neave; Dana (Tanya) Manegre; 10 great-grand-children: Michael & Sarah Jarvis; Alexandra, Bill & Ewan King; Sage & Ross Redelback; Connor Neave; Aidan & Josh Manegre. She was predeceased by her husband, Armand J. Manegre in 1974; her parents George and Philomene Roberge; 5 sisters: Fabiola, Yvonne, Laura, Lisianne, and Albertine; 6 brothers: George, Oscar, Alcide, Leo, Alphonse and Adrian. Prayers were held Tuesday, May 10, 2011 from the Chapel of Sallows and McDonald Funeral Home, North Battleford, Sk.: Gil Bellavance - Presiding; Brendan Legario - Organist; Erin Foreman - Violinist. The Funeral Mass with Reverend Father Gerard Legaspi officiating, was held Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at St. André Roman Catholic Church, North Battleford, Sk. The Eulogy was given by grandson, Barry Jarvis. Music ministry: Organist/Soloist - Joan Harrison; Notre Dame Church Choir. The Honorary Pallbearers were: "Everyone who shared in Mom's life. "The Active Pallbearers were: Brian Manegre, David Manegre, Clarence Manegre, Henri Roberge, Guy Roberge and Leo Brisebois. Interment took place at the City of North Battleford Cemetary, North Battleford, Sk. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Sallows & McDonald Funeral Home, North Battleford, Sk. Memorials in memory of Eva may be made to Villa Pascal (1301 - 113th Street, North Battleford, Sk., S9A 3K1) or the Donor's Choice. EULOGY Eva I. Manegre By Grandson, Barry Jarvis Good afternoon. When I was asked to do the eulogy, my first thoughts were, where do I even begin? What a life! Ninety-three years young! As I thought about it, I was struck by what I think was the hallmark of Grandma's approach to life and the world around her. I referred to Grandma as ninety-three years young because I think "young" is an apt description of the manner in which she embraced life. It is fair to say that some people naturally shirk from engaging the world and others naturally embrace what it has to offer regardless of what that might be. I think Grandma was definitely a member of the latter category. She shared a life that spanned a century! Born on a homestead, educated in a one room school, raised on the family farm near Ponteix, with short stops in Rosetown and Saskatoon, she took up residence here in The Battleford's in 1937. She married Armand in 1943 and began life as a mother in 1945. Shortly thereafter, with Armand they opened Avenue Auto Body & Repair Shop on Railway Avenue marking the start of her engagement in the community that would span the better part of the next six decades in various forms. As a small business owner/operator with Armand she wore many hats and played many roles from pumping gas to driving the tow truck to doing the accounting. She was engaged on the front line of the business in a way that was somewhat out of sorts with the stereotypical role for women of the day. In this regard, I think it safe to say she was a bit ahead of her time. The garage formed a big part of the immediate and extended family life. Mom always said that it was a hub for the extended family to meet. Aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews all at one time or another dropping in at the garage for informal and formal events! Someone was always passing through or getting together at the garage and many fond memories were made over the years as respective families grew.Throughout this period as her family grew and matured she became involved in the Notre Dame Home & School Association, helping with various aspects of the school community life including 'Bazaars', Christmas concerts and the Saint Anne's lady group. As the 1960's came to a close and the garage passed into history, Grandma took on different roles working and helping to manage the Fort, the Hitching Post and the Five Star Motel's in both North Battleford and Battleford. Her community involvement grew as well, especially with the Saint Andre Parish in which she was a founding member. Her involvement varied over the years and in that time she served as a volunteer and was a Board Member through the 1990's and into the 2000's. She served as a Board Member of the Villa Pascal from its inception in 1977 and also the Manior Marchildon in the 1990's and 2000's. In addition, she served as Treasurer to the Board of the Villa for some 32 years.One of Eva's greatest treasures was "The Lake ." She took great pleasure herself in having a place at the lake and even more pleasure later in life being able to see her grand-children and then great grand-children share in the fun of the cabin and the lake. I can still recall in the 1970's when she had the opportunity to purchase the title to the lot on the creek how she immediately secured it for the future enjoyment of her grandchildren and great grandchildren.I'm not sure exactly when but sometime in the mid 1970's as the grand children started to grow and use of the cabin at the lake picked up, Grandma took it upon herself to learn how to swim. While I did not think it at the time, to me this says much about her and her approach to life. Here she was in her in late 50's taking up the mantle of swimming lessons so she could swim with her grandchildren. She continued to swim well into her 80's.Mom once said that one of the most important parts of Grandma's life and accomplishments was her family and her attention to that family, particularly as a Grandmother and later a Great-Grandmother. In this I think I have to agree wholeheartedly. Growing up to me it seemed as if she was always there when we needed her. Whether it was someone needing to be picked up when Mom & Dad could not or needing someone to drive us to some activity or another she seemed always ready willing and able to step into the gap and make sure that what needed to get done with the grand children got done. I recall once in 1977, while mom & dad were in Hawaii, she even delivered my paper route when I took ill and could not. She was always engaged, always on the go. I guess that's how the grand children came to know her as the "Go Go" Grandma! To us she was always on the move whether with us or with friends, or volunteering or doing any of the other activities in which she enthusiastically engaged.I suppose this was the secret to her life. Stay active and stay engaged. And she did this with zest. She used to say she was off to the Villa to visit with the "Old People", this at a point in her life when she was much older than a great many of the residents. Well into her 80's she continued to volunteer with the Ladies Auxiliary at the Battleford's District Care Centre where she and others helped out with the Friday afternoon Bingo's and also continued to volunteer fundraise with the Auxiliary for the Parish once per month. Elle aimait beaucoup "les jeux des cartes tous les semaines avec ses amis francais, et les deux Simone's et Leona. Merci." In 2005 her long time involvement in the community was acknowledged with her induction into the Frontier Mall "Wall of Fame" recognizing her contribution to and accomplishments in the local community over the decades.Grandma loved to knit and crochet, always commenting that it kept her hands, arms and mind active. Mom mentioned to me yesterday that she continued this activity up until last fall and had over the past two years crocheted "doilies" for the staff at the Villa.When I look back on it, I think her greatest legacy is perhaps the gift of this zest for life and for demonstrating a remarkable ability to be proud in and take comfort in what she had built and accomplished in spite of all the personal or professional hardship encountered along the way. She always looked to the future and reminded us that if we worked hard and put our noses to the grindstone things would work out in the end. I would like to say a special thanks to all the family and friends who took the time to call and visit Grandma over the past couple of years while she was in residence at the Villa. Mom and Uncle Ted have said that this meant the world to Grandma and for this we would like to thank every one of you who took the time to stop and say hi and wish her well. Thank-you!To the staff and everyone at the Villa we would like to extend our thanks for your effort and attentions to Grandma over the last couple of years and in particular during the last few months. Thank-you!And finally, I would like to close with a personal note in that I have seen in my life and in my achievements that my success is in part attributable to the foundation that was laid in part by Grandma. Looking back some of the lessons and memories might seem trivial but I think taken together they represent in a way something of what I have become. And for this I am grateful and eternally indebted. So I say from the bottom of my heart thank-you, I'll miss you; we'll all miss you dearly. _____________________________________________________
