Obituary of Germaine Kelly

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Germaine Kelly, a longtime resident of Bonanza, Alberta. Germaine passed away in McLennan, Alberta on Sunday, August 23, 2020 at the age of 90 years.

If I were to describe Germaine Kelly in a few words, I would say she was kind and caring, sometimes going to hospitals and care homes to send her love to her friends or family members that were unwell.  It was always important to her to keep track of people’s birthdays and send them a card on their special day and also at Christmas time.  She was meticulous in her work as a cleaning lady and Janitor, people would say no one could do as good work as Germaine.

She loved to cook and was such a good cook that at some C.W.I events they would sell tickets and the prize was a meal at Germaine’s. Everyone loved it when she would cook them a meal with all the fixings. It would be a special event to help Ed with bringing in the crop on the farm in the fall because it always meant a good meal by Germaine on your break.  There would be laughing and joking and eating good food and spending quality time around the Kelly table at the farm.

She liked to paint houses and made sure everything matched.  She enjoyed planting her flowers and a garden in the spring, keeping the lawn cut so everything would look beautiful when friends or family would visit.

Germaine was a hard worker, growing up on a farm in Tangent, Alberta and left home at 16 years old to work at the McLennan Hospital, where she met her 1^st husband, Lionel Pinard. They started their life together and moved to Dawson Creek, BC in 1957, with their young children, Michel and Dorinne in tow. Baby Gerald was born many years later in 1969. Germaine always said her greatest gift were her kids.

Later she married Ed Kelly and together they bought the farm in Bonanza, Alberta. They would love to go to all the country dances together and dance the night away. Oh, how Germaine loved to dance and she so loved her Ed. 

Throughout her life she enjoyed the time she spent in different clubs, Jaycettes, Toast Masters and the Country Women’s Institute.  While in these clubs she made many friends and they would continue to be friends all through Germaine’s life.  She took up golfing and curling for some time and was creative in later life making her special scrap books, her sock monkeys and writing her life story.

She loved to plan things such as trips, special events like the barbeques she would put on and even her own funeral.  At one time she got very sick and thought she was dying.  She wanted to make sure everything was perfect for her funeral so she called Richard, the Funeral Director and told him to gas up the Hearse, that he would have to come and get her soon in Falher. She was very concerned about how to get the dress she wanted to be buried in to him.

In a special book about her final wishes, she had written a message to her friends and family which reads: “I was very thankful to have been so richly gifted in my life. As far back as I can remember I was eager to learn new things. I loved to keep busy and keep working. My life was happy and I was a people’s person. Friends were abundant in my life and we always kept in contact with each other. Friends and family and the connections I have made, raising my kids, - these are the things that touch my heart and mean the most.”

Due to ongoing COVID restrictions, a private family service was held.

For friends so wishing, donations may be made in memory of Germaine to the BC Cancer Foundation, 150-686 W. Broadway, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1G1.

Very Respectfully, Reynars Funeral Home & Crematorium