Obituary Loreen (Lorraine) Mary Grondin

Mom was born on July 27, 1930 in Moose Jaw, the second of five children to Tom and Mary Gallagher. She spent her early years on South Hill in Moose Jaw and attended high school with the Sisters of Sion. After High School, Mom met her future husband Stan, but they were not allowed to marry until she completed her Diploma nursing training at Moose Jaw Providence Hospital.

Lorraine and Stan were married on August 5, 1953. Over the next few years they resided in Moose Jaw, Weyburn and Lloydminster.  Son Edward (Ted) was born in 1957 and daughter Shannon in 1962. They had the opportunity to purchase Biggar Funeral Home in 1963. Biggar became the family’s home for the next 62 years. Mom didn’t nurse much after the move to Biggar as she had a family to raise and someone had to be “On Phones”. They operated Biggar’s ambulance service and expanded their funeral home with a Wilkie Branch.

Son Patrick was born in 1966 and the family soon moved into a newly constructed home which would become the family’s touchstone for the next 58 years.

As the family grew, mom turned her attention to the community. She spent many years as a member and chairperson of St. Gabriel’s Catholic School Board and Prairie West Public Board of Health, with memberships in the Catholic Women’s League and Fortnightly.

In 1980 Lorraine and Stan purchased a small cottage on Jackfish Lake. The next years are remembered with many days of multiple generations of family, girl friends, boy friends, spouses and grand children. Christmas in Biggar, summers at Jackfish - - - the Best of Times.

Lorraine lost Stan in 2001. With both Shannon and Pat qualified in the family business, the Funeral business carried on. What we didn’t realize until this time was how bright mom’s entrepreneurial spirit was. With Patrick, mom established Unity Funeral Home in about 2004 followed by Cut Knife Funeral Home in 2006.

Mom’s hands were always busy. She was a crafter: knitting a large inventory of infant sweaters, hats and booties that she gave to every new mother she encountered. She was famous for her icing sugar table centres for weddings and bridal dolls for showers. Many received Mom’s fruit cake for weddings or Christmas.

Our mother surprised us with the challenges she embraced, from trying out the new Biggar Lions Club ski hill in 1967 to solo navigating Tokyo, Japan’s subway system on a special shopping trip.

We lost Shannon in July 2018.

Mom sold Grondin Funeral Services in April of 2019 at the age of 88 years and she continued to to live independently in the family home. A month after a party celebrating her 95th birthday,  Mom passed quietly in her home August 26, 2025.

She Did It Her Way !!

Mom is survived by her children;

Ted (Diane) Grondin, Patrick (Elan) Grondin and Son-in-Law Jerome Ehry.

Grandchildren; Justin (Riley) Labrecque, Randall ( Staci) Labrecque, Jennifer (David) Chevrier, Mike(Sara) Grondin, Peter Ehry, Alyssa(Adam) Bloski, Patrick Grondin, Thomas (Sydney) Ehry, Victoria Grondin, William Grondin.

9 Great Grandchildren; Alex and Julie Labrecque, Randie and Sadie Grondin, Hope  and Caleb Chevrier, Oden Labrecque, Laikin, Walker and Jace Bloski.

Sisters; Marie(Frank) Scheirich, Shirley(Ian) McKay.

Mom was predeceased by her Parents, Thomas and Mary Gallagher, her Husband Stan, Daughter, Shannon Ehry. Brothers Lawrence Gallagher, Tom (Florence) Gallagher, Nephews Kevin Scheirch, Ken Scheirich, Mike Gallagher and Steven Gallagher.

Tributes in the Memory of Lorraine Grondin may be made to :

                                                               

                                                FARM IN THE DELL

                                                Biggar Development Project

                                               

                                                E-transfer: directors@farminthedell.com

                                                Note: Biggar Location