Saturday, July 20, 2013, Fern Lois Kunard passed away peacefully at Weyburn. She was predeceased by her mother and father, Charles and Fern Powell; husband, Donald Kunard; brother, Evan Powell and sister, Beryl (Lyle) Keefe. Fern was born June 30, 1918 on the family homestead at Griffin to Fern Irene Blount and Charles Fryer Powell and siblings Beryl and Evan. She was raised on the farm and attended school in the town of Griffin. After completing high school Fern went to Normal School in Moose Jaw. She later would teach in several one room schools throughout southwest Saskatchewan in Griffin, Innes, Hume and Bridgeford. It was at Bridgeford that Fern met Don Kunard. They were married in 1948 at the farm home of her sister, Beryl. Don and Fern eventually moved to Weyburn where she continued to teach in the Weyburn School System until her retirement. Don and Fern had one child, a daughter, Christine. Fern loved to teach, it was her passion. She felt that every child and family she taught and met over the many years of her career had so enriched her life. Fern felt deeply blessed to have had this privilege. She also enjoyed reading, sewing and quilting. Fern was always open to learning new things. She loved to cook and bake - she was a fabulous cook! Fern also had an avid interest in gardening and tending to plants and flowers in her yard. She was very proud of her heritage and had an interest in her family's history. Fern was grateful for being born in "simpler and gentler" times, where family and community were the foundation of values. In later years Fern would take trips to Wisconsin to trace her family roots. She was also active in the community, as a faithful sister of the Alexandria Rebekah Weyburn Lodge and a longtime member of the Grace United Church. Fern will be remembered as an educator, mentor, loving daughter, much loved sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was a very dear friend to many. In the late evening of July 20, 2013, Fern passed into eternal rest and peace with daughter Christine holding her hand and grandson Brendan at her side at the Weyburn General Hospital. Fern will be lovingly remembered by her daughter, Christine Tincher of Calgary, Alberta; three grandsons, Morgan (Kimberlee) Tincher of Vancouver, British Columbia, Jeffrey Tincher of Calgary, Alberta and Brendan (Krista) Tincher of High River, Alberta; great grandchildren, Dawson, Fabian, Ada and Chloe; nieces and nephews, Gary (Birdene) Keefe, Brian (Donna) O'Keefe, Murray (Heather) Keefe, Dawn (Duff) Coulter, Neal (Rae) Keefe, Crystal (Ron) Carlson), Sean (Patricia) Keefe and their families; Ken Powell, Elizabeth (Cam) Barker, Craig (Ruth) Powell and their families; sister-in-law, Io Powell; cousins Zen Boldt and family; sister -in-law, Joyce Williams; brother-in-law, Garry Kunard and many nieces and nephews. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, August 31 at 2:00 pm from Fletcher Funeral Chapel, Weyburn, with Reverend M. Barnabas officiating. A Reception will follow the service at Grace United Church upper hall, Weyburn. A Private Family Interment will take place at Griffin Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Fern may be made to Weyburn and District Hospital Foundation Inc. Box 1416, #1 33 5th Street, Weyburn, S4H 3J9. Condolences may be left at: www.fletcherfuneralchapel.com. Arrangements entrusted to Fletcher Funeral Chapel Weyburn, 306-842-5432.
