Cecile Harvey

December 31, 1929 - December 28, 2016

It is with great sadness that our family announces the passing of Cecile Harvey, a remarkable woman. She was born on December 31, 1929, in Ponteix, Saskatchewan to Rachel and Guillaume Forget and  was the first child baptized at the newly constructed Notre Dame d’Auvergne Parish Church. Cecile attended the local school, Notre Dame East, where she obtained her elementary education. She and her siblings often walked the one mile to school but went by horse and buggy on cold winter days. Cecile completed high school as a boarder at the convent in Ponteix run by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Chambriac. She went on to obtain her teaching certificate at Teachers College in Saskatoon followed by Bachelor of Liberal Arts (1973) and Bachelor of Education (1974) degrees from the University of Saskatchewan. She was a lifelong learner with special interests in French literature and culture, art and art history and library science. Cecile met her husband, Peter, while attending summer sessions at the University of Saskatchewan and they were married in July, 1952. As teachers they often taught in the same rural schools. Peter’s teaching career took them to Prince Albert, SK., where their daughters Patricia and Amelia were born. They moved to Saskatoon in 1960 and welcomed a son, Reginald, a few years later. Cecile was a loving and supportive wife to Peter. They would have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in 2017. She was a kind, gentle and loving mother who enjoyed watching her children grow and establish families of their own. As a grandmother, she specialized in her world famous recipes of Nana casserole, Nana chiffon cake and her cookies - some known to be the size of pizzas. She valued her relationships with siblings and their families and especially loved the Forget family summer camping reunions at Saskatchewan and Alberta lakes. Cecile’s faith was extremely important to her and she was a long-time member of St. Philip Neri Roman Catholic Church. She volunteered in many capacities at the church and in the community. Cecile and Peter travelled to Europe to visit the shrines including Lourdes, Garabandal, Fatima and Santiago de Compostela as well as religious locations in Paris, Rome and Canada.She was predeceased by her parents Guillaume and Rachel Forget; brothers Willie Forget and Rene Forget; sister-in-law Alice Forget; brother-in-law John Martin; nephews Marc Forget and Paul Auger. She is lovingly remembered and survived by her husband Peter Harvey; children Patricia (Bill) Miller, Amelia (Michael) Shirley and Reginald (Beverly) Harvey; grandchildren Benjamin Miller, Thomas Miller (Myra Brooks) and Allison Miller (Kieran Foss); Eric Shirley and Katherine Shirley; Jay Richards (Amber) and Blake Richards; and great-grandchild Keira Richards; sisters Laurette Martin, Simone (Edouard) Desautels and Yolande (Leo) Thibault; brothers Gaston (Paulette) Forget and Jean (Elaine) Forget; and sister-in-law Rita Forget; as well as numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or to a charity of your choice in Cecile’s name. The Vigil for Cecile will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 6, 2017 and the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 7, 2017. Both services will be held at St. Philip Neri Roman Catholic Church (1902 Munroe Ave. S.) in Saskatoon with Rev. Father Emile April as celebrant. The Rite of Committal will take place at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Arrangements in care of John Schachtel – Mourning Glory Funeral Services (306) 978-5200