Simone passed away peacefully on August 11, 2024 at the Foyer St Joseph Nursing Home in Ponteix, Sask at the age of 91. She was born to Guillaume Forget and Rachel (Rousseau) on Dec 18, 1932 at their farm in Ponteix. Simone was the 4th of 8 children. She attended Notre Dame East School a country school (grade 1-8) Ponteix Convent (grade 9), Sion Academy Saskatoon ( grade 10) and Scott's Business College, Saskatoon, Sask where she obtained a secretarial course and worked for Mid-West Dental Supply office for a couple years.
In 1953, she left her employment to help her parents in their Ponteix and Saskatoon homes. Simone met her life partner, Edouard Desautels. They were married October 18, 1956, a union that spanned 63 years. A couple of years later, they brought home their first child, Louise. A year later, in 1959, they moved to the Desautels homestead. Three more children were born, Doris, Daniel & Vickie. They lived on the farm for 25 years, then in 1983, they moved into Ponteix, first into a large 2 story brick home, then they downsized to a bungalow in 2013. On June 25, 2020 during the times of the Covid pandemic they moved into the Foyer St Joseph Nursing Home.
Genealogy research was important to Simone perhaps that’s why her and Ed hosted many family reunions to gather everyone together. The great ancestors were of interest, but nothing was as special as their only 2 Great grandchildren, Rylin & Laila.
Simone’s hobbies included doing crafts with the grandchildren Jenna, Jamie and Steph, ceramics, making puzzles and playing cards, and of course collecting quotes and verses which she did to the end. She loved sewing everything- Sunday outfits, pajamas, barbie doll clothes to bridesmaids’ dresses.
In the summers, the family travelled to various places in western Canada and Yellowstone, quite often with a caravan of family relatives and friends. Simone’s fondest memories were summer trips and time spent at Lac Pelletier with family and friends, hosting bonfires and fish fries at their cabin. Winter travels were also a big part of Simone & Ed’s life, taking a vacation yearly since the early 60’s. They have visited several southern states also Hawaii, Alaska & Yukon, plus a trip to the Atlantic coast. She enjoyed picking seashells off the Sea of Cortez, Mexico. In the later years, Yuma, Arizona became a prime spot to park their RV for a few months. Simone was very good reading maps and was often the navigator on their trips.
Organizations Simone belonged to over the years were Enfants de Marie, Ladies of the Parish, Ponteix Hospital Auxiliary, Donor’s Choice. She spent many hours on the typewriter transcribing stories for the Ponteix History Book, and volunteering at functions for Les Amis de Ponteix. She enjoyed bowling, golfing, fishing and loved playing cards often looking forward to meeting with the Canasta Club, where she shared a joke each week. In her later years, Simone enjoyed watching the birds and she loved to play bingo, win or lose is what we heard from the staff at the Foyer. She felt fortunate to have such a wonderful place, thanks to all the staff that cared for her the last 4 years.
Simone will be fondly remembered by her children Louise Auger, Doris (Gerry) Bourlon, Daniel (Veronica), Vickie (Leon) Hiebert. Grandchildren; Jenna (Brad) Walton, Jamie Desautels (Ravi Seyed Mahmoud) and Stephanie Desautels, Great grandchildren; Rylin Walton and Laila Walton. She leaves behind her sister and friend Yolande (Leo) Thibault. Simone’s memory will live on with sisters-in-laws, Rita Forget, Paulette Forget, Elaine Forget, and Gertrude Mondor as well as numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Simone was predeceased by her husband Edouard Desautels (2020), her parents, Guillaume Forget and Rachel (Rousseau) her siblings and their spouses- Laurette (John) Martin, Cecile (Peter) Harvey, Willie Forget, Rene (Alice) Forget, Gaston Forget, Jean Forget. As well as a very special son-in-law Paul Auger. She was predeceased by parent-in-law’s Horace and Dosia Desautels, and their children and spouses; Sr. Yvonne, Sr. Lucienne, Ernest (Marie-Anna) Desautels, Beatrice (Henri) Goulet, Robert (Lucienne) Desautels, Florence (Ralph) Schell & (Edwin Cheesman), Roger (Beulah) Desautels, Maurice (Yvonne) Desautels, (Gaston Mondor) and Lucien (Lina) Desautels. Also gone before her, a few nieces and nephews in the Desautels & Forget families.
Arrangements Entrusted To: Lemieux Funeral Home
For further information please call 1-306-773-8831 or 1-800-267-6606, or visit our website at www.lemieuxfuneralhome.com and express your sympathy to family members on the tribute wall.