Jean Margaret Maser

Jean was born in Calgary, Alberta on August 22, 1924. When she was six years old the family moved to a homestead at Ricinus, Alberta where they had a sawmill. Jean spent those early days riding horseback, learning piano, and helping with chores. Later on she enjoyed many back country horse pack trips with her sister Helen and husband Clarence, who was a wildlife officer in the Clearwater, British Columbia.

Jean met Ben Maser, they were married in 1947 and lived in Calgary. Jean was a very talented pianist and enjoyed playing piano in a band for local dances. If she wasn’t playing for a dance, then she and Ben were quite good dancers themselves. She delighted folks with her piano playing even into her nineties.

Jean and Ben had two children, baby Allison who sadly passed very soon after her birth, and then several years later Melanie was born. Family was front and center and every summer, camping trips into BC were much anticipated. Usually they were joined by Jeans’ brothers, Fletcher and Gordon and their families. Other than thunderstorms and the odd bear, Jean was a camping fanatic.

Later on after Ben’s passing, Jean was able to travel a lot with companion Cy French. Arizona was a favorite winter destination, but they also saw the Maritimes and Alaska. When Cy was gone she still managed to take some cruises to the Caribbean and Hawaii and visited her parents birthplace in England. Jean continued to travel into her 80’s and 90’s most recently to Cuba in 2017 with her daughter Melanie and family.

Jean was an avid card player all her life with some of her favorites being Cribbage and Bridge. She was always up for a game but for something different, scrabble would do nicely. Another passion was a bonfire. She just couldn’t resist a good one and was especially fond of “poking the fire” and toasting marshmallows. She will be missed and fondly remembered by all that knew her.

Jean is, lovingly remembered by her daughter Melanie Heske (Terry) of Markerville Alberta; granddaughters Jamie Hagel (Jay) of Sangudo, Alberta and Lindsay Rendleman (Bob Rowthorn) of Innisfail, Alberta; grandsons Ben Heske of Markerville Alberta, and Josh and Jordan Heske of Edmonton, Alberta; great grandson Emmitt, and great granddaughter Oaklyn. She is also survived by a dozen nieces and nephews and their spouses, children and grandchildren.

Jean was predeceased by her husband Benjamin and baby Allison, her parents Job and Helen Forster; her brothers Carl, Orville, Gordon, Fletcher, and Bob and her sisters Helen and Ruthie, in-laws Mabel, Matt, Mary, Jean, Clarence, and Gertie.

A Private Family Funeral Service will be held at Foster’s Garden Chapel, 3220 – 4 Street N.W., Calgary (across from Queen’s Park Cemetery) on Wednesday, February 10, 2021. Interment will follow at Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery.