JACEK, O. Jean
1931 - 2020
With sadness we announce the peaceful death of O. Jean Jacek (nee: Bateman) on Sunday, May 3, 2020 at Central Haven Special Care Home in Saskatoon. Jean and her beautiful smile, will be lovingly remembered by her husband, to whom she was wed for 65 years. Her memory will also be cherished by her daughters Nora and Carolyn, and granddaughter Faye Hutchison. Jean was born in Saskatoon on August 5, 1931 to Dr. John and Christina Bateman. Jean was predeceased by her parents and her only sister, Moira Tingliff.
Jean attended Victoria School, Nutana Collegiate, and completed the Secretarial Course at the Saskatoon Technical Collegiate. It was at a high school dance where she met Gus, the love of her life. They navigated through many tough times together and their devotion to one another was the solid rock upon which their family was built.
Jean always loved dancing: Irish country dancing, Square and Round dancing (choreographed ballroom), and enjoyed watching the television show "Dancing with the Stars". Jean and Gus attended many Square and Round dance conventions, which afforded them numerous opportunities to enjoy traveling the world together. In addition to being a graceful dancer; she was a very accomplished musician, playing violin in both the Saskatoon and Calgary Symphony Orchestras, and playing piano in competitions and recitals. She taught both her girls the joy of music, a joy she herself felt: she could sit at the piano and play for hours, getting lost in the music.
Music was not her only creative expression. She was an exceptional cook, and her culinary skills live on in her daughters and granddaughter; she had a penchant for butter tarts and caramel, and inherited her sweet tooth from her father. She also explored drawing and painting, batik, decoupage, and sewing. Her appreciation for art and beauty was evident in how she perceived the world and in the things she surrounded herself with. She passed this on to her daughters, showing them how to see beauty in everyday things. From observing the prismatic colours reflected through a window, to the clothes she chose to wear to church, Jean’s sense of beauty followed her everywhere.
Jean had a sense of compassion and consideration for others, she would spend quite a bit of time picking out a card or gift that was "just right" for someone. She supported the City Hospital Foundation and University scholarship funds set up for English and Philosophy students, she also volunteered at church activities. Her concern for other people extended to other residents in the Care Home where she spent her final years.
Knowing Jean was to know her keen sense of humour. She regularly enjoyed a good laugh, especially with her family. She was always clipping cartoons for one of us, especially Hermann or Pickles cartoons. She laughed when her granddaughter made a game of counting up how many Owls she could find in Grandma’s house; there were 28 at last count. Jean loved Owls and collected them in every form from calendars to paintings to brooches. She was also interested in documentaries or books about owls. Jean had a curious mind: she was always interested in learning new things, for instance, she took an astrology course because she wanted to know how to design horoscopes.
We take comfort in knowing that she is now at peace. She will be greatly missed.
The family wishes to acknowledge the care Jean received from the nurses and staff at Central Haven Special Care Home.
Due to Covid-19, we will be waiting until such time as it is acceptable for family and friends to gather for a Memorial Service to pay tribute to Jean, which will be announced in a future edition of this newspaper.
Condolences may be left for the family at www.saskatoonfuneralhome.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Saskatoon Funeral Home. 306-244-5577