Verna Laureda Burton

Verna Laureda Burton, aged 96 years of Moose Jaw, SK, passed away Thursday, September 15th, 2011.  She was predeceased by her steadfast husband, Fred.  Verna was the dear mother of sons, Ray and his wife Pat of Thornhill, ON, and Harvey and his wife Pat of London, ON.  Verna was also the cherished grandmother of four grandchildren: Craig, Janet, Aiden and Erika; along with three great-grandchildren and countless nieces and nephews.  Verna is survived by her sister, Marjory Russell and brother, Bill Henderson but was predeceased by her brother, Jim.  Verna lived through almost all of the Province’s formal history from sod huts to railway lines, wheat pools, dustbowls, rural electrification, grid road and highway construction, for which she played a key role as financial officer for Fred’s construction company.  She was an active sportswoman in earlier times and displayed a lifelong passion of 75 years for her Rebekah lodge that ended only with her demise.  Her family would like to pass along Verna’s heartfelt love to all her surviving friends and relations, and in particular to the entire Eileen Mitchell family for embracing her into their lives after she was widowed.  Cremation has taken place.  A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, October 22nd, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. in Moose Jaw Funeral Home, followed by a gathering of family and friends in the Harvey Room at the funeral home to celebrate the remarkable life of another of Saskatchewan’s early Canadians. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice.