Laura Lafrentz 1930 - 2015 Laura Bernice Lafrentz passed away at the St. Joseph’s Special Care Home, Estevan, SK on Friday, October 30, 2015 at the age of 85 years.
She was predeceased by her husband Lawrence Lafrentz; parents, Regis and Evelyn LeBlanc; sister-in-law Shirley LeBlanc; brothers-in-law, Wilfred Neumeier and Harlan Lafrentz; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Ferdinand and Antonia Lafrentz.
Laura was born on April 30, 1930. She was the second born of Regis and Evelyn LeBlanc’s 11 children.Ìý She was raised on the family farm in the Outram Area. In 1945, when she was 12, the whole family was baptized into the Catholic Church. She took schooling at a one room school house called Brown’s School. She also attended High School at Estevan Collegiate (ECI) and Sacred Heart Academy for girls in Regina. She was a real home body and did not like going to school in Regina. She was too lonesome, even though she was with her two sisters. She never moved away from Estevan again. Upon completion of High School she went to work at St. Joseph’s Hospital as a Secretary.
Laura married Lawrence Lafrentz on April 11, 1953 and were two months short of their 60th wedding anniversary at the time of his passing. There union produced six children, 16 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.Ìý
She had many jobs over the years and helped her husband build two very successful companies: L & C Trucking that they later sold to their partner and Lafrentz Oilfield Construction from which they retired. In between these companies there was also raising and breeding cattle, custom crop spraying and custom bail hauling. Mom did the bookkeeping for all these ventures.
Mom was active for many years in the Estevan Oil Wives, The Catholic Women’s League, St. John the Baptist Church Choir, The Sacred Heart Home and School, as well as Census taking, Enumerating and Scrutineering for many elections - all while raising 6 beautiful children. Ìý
Mom truly was a great mother to all of us. She was our biggest fan and number one cheerleader. We always knew that she loved and supported us. Even as Alzheimer’s disease took its hold on her we knew that she was still in there. Her heart did not forget us. Our memories of her are precious. In her final days, as we gathered together at her bedside, we shared much laughter and tears as we reminisced on our life with her.Ìý
As a family we would like to thank the staff at St. Joseph’s Long Term Care, all those that sent food, flowers, prayers and condolences and the Days Inn.
Prayers were held on Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Hall Funeral Services, Estevan. The Funeral Mass was celebrated on Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John the Baptist R.C. Church, Estevan, by Rev. Thuy Nguyen. Interment followed at the Estevan City Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make donations in Laura’s memory may do so directly to the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation (designate to long term care), 1176 Nicholson Road, Estevan, SK, S4A 0H3.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Hall Funeral Services, Estevan.
