Jean Grace Benna

It is with great sadness that the family of Jean Grace Benna announces her passing on Thursday, April 9th, 2020 at the age of 89.

Jean was born to ­­­Frances Styrvoky and Joseph Tocker on August 9th, 1930 in Grove Park, Saskatchewan. She grew up on a small farm with her brave pioneering parents and five inspiring brothers. After wedding with her husband at the age of 18 years, they formed a union of family and partnership in the Qu'Appelle Valley close to her birth home, raising food for this growing nation. She was very proud to be a part of this honorable role and really enjoyed passing this lifestyle onto family and friends.      

Jean married Joseph Michael Benna in 1948 and had five sons Reginald, Edward, Allan, Joseph and Carey. Jean worked very hard in her home, in the gardens, helping with livestock, grain growing and other tasks on the farm. Jean was a loving, kind and caring woman that would do anything and everything for her family and friends. She really enjoyed the ladies church groups, enjoyed cooking and trying new recipes along with sewing. She also enjoyed her travels to several countries and experiencing different cultures and traditions.

You can shed tears that she is gone,

Or you can smile because she has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back,

Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left.

Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her,

Or you can be full of the love that you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,

Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember her and only that she is gone,

Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back,

Or you can do what she would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.    

Jean is survived by her five sons, Reginald, Edward and wife Beryl; son’s Brandon (Karie Ann), Kristopher and Thane, Allan; sons Ryan (Julie) and Kyle (Shelby) and daughter Daphne (Kieth) Marsh, Joseph and wife Emilia; daughter Katherine (Jason) Atkings and Carey; daughter Jackie (Steve) Kilgour and sons, Luke (Sarah) & Caleb (Erin) Bachiu. Jean leaves behind eight wonderful great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her husband, Joseph Michael Benna; parents, Frances and Joseph Tocker; and brothers George, Harry, Ed, Ernie, and Leonard.