Shirley Jeannot

Born to Stanley and Nettie Knourek (Knezacek) on November 13, 1935. She was named Grace Shirley, but she showed her stubbornness early at 7 yrs old when she saw her first Shirley Temple movie and wanted to be called Shirley. Grandma said that mom refused to answer to Grace and hid until they called her Shirley. They finally relented and she was known as Shirley forevermore. If she was ever called Grace, her side eye was impressive. She went to school in a one room school in the Kolan district and then they moved to Esterhazy for high school. 

She loved to talk to herself and play pretend. Ride bikes and go for walks and her swing.  Her siblings were much older than her, but she loved spending time with them. Evelyn used to take her to the home she worked in and read her stories. Carl taught her to drive the old model A car.  She learned to play piano and organ and was well versed on the accordion. She had a passion for old time music and dancing. 

In her teen years she met Bernard at a picnic when he was on a date with her friend. Later Shirley went along to a dance with that same friend and Bernard. As the story goes dad broke up with his girlfriend at the dance and took his date home first so he would be able to ask mom out when he took her home. The rest as they say is history.

They married in 1956 and had their son Dale in 1958, and daughters Pauline '61 and Patti Lynn '68. They were married 58 years. 

Shirley worked for The Chomos brothers in their Hardware store for 7 years until the children arrived. Then she dedicated her days to her husband and her children. If being a mother, housewife, and homemaker was a paying job, she would have been rich. She sewed her children's clothes, grew a bountiful garden, especially proud of her peas and raspberries. She was always in the kitchen, blanching and pickling, cooking. She also LOVED ironing especially when her "stories " were on. And then there was the baking.  In the years she baked for the Farmers Market it was 5 days of baking every week! Her dinner buns became so popular she was doing extra orders and even got the nickname “The bun Lady"

She also devoted her life to her faith in the church and was very involved in the CWL she was a convening committee organizer and worked at many funerals, teas and other church events. She later visited the sick in hospital and Care Home and served communion to shut in's until she was no longer able. She was known to be gone for a long time when she visited because she never had the heart to refuse the invitation to stay for a tea and a visit.

She also volunteered for Donors Choice and was a coordinator for years, and the Potashville Music Festival. Wednesday afternoon bowling was her favourite pastime as well as her exercise group The Happy Gang.  Bernard and Shirley loved getting together with neighbors to play cards and visit, they also loved going on holidays to the Mountains, going to dances at the lake and the Rainbow Hall, if they weren't going out it was the Saturday Night Dance party on the radio, and they would dance in the living room.  Shirley never gave up, even when stricken with Alzheimer’s, she continued to play cards with Bernard every night, with her wheeled walker she was still dancing around the Care Home. She also loved bunnies and had a vast collection of ornaments and stuffies. 

She was blessed with 3 grandsons whom she loved fiercely. She was always available for them and loved spending time with them. They brought out the silly, childish side of her that she now had an excuse to utilize.

She was very good at keeping in touch with letters and phone calls, so her friends almost always became lifelong friends. 

She babysat her grandchildren a lot and worked at Frills and Flair with Pauline for many years. 

In 2010 as her Alzheimer’s took over, they moved out of their beloved home into Sumner Place and then she later moved into long term care where she slowly declined for the past 14 years.

Her mind had declined too much to enjoy the birth of her only great granddaughter Olive or the extended family of stepchildren, grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

Her golden heart stopped beating on August 31/2025

She leaves to mourn her son Dale (Darlene) daughters Pauline (Blaine Chewka) and Patti Lynn (Shawn Watt) her grandsons Jeremy Kunkel (Ashley) Bryce (Erin) and Chad. Great granddaughter Olive (Bryce & Erin).

Also affected by this loss are stepfamilies Kyle and Brianna Hanis (Peter) and their son Gabe. Chantelle and Tim Ottenbreit and daughters Addyson and Isla and James and Alicia Chewka and children Jovi, Scarlett and Kade as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.

She was predeceased by her husband Bernard, parents Stanley and Nettie Knourek, her brother Carl and her sister Evelyn Kacsmar. Her in-laws Ben and Lucille Jeannot and sisters and brothers-in-law Riene and Paul Raiwet, Rog and Genevieve Rodger's and Albert Kacsmar, nieces Sharon Zaluski and Leona Raiwet and nephews Donald and Francis Raiwet and Nathan Manderson.

May the lives she touched hold onto the precious memories that knowing her provided. 

                                             Love doesn't die,

                                             People do.

                                             So, when all that's left of me

                                             Is love,

                                             Give me away.

                                             I'll see you at home.