Obituary of Stephanie Leigh Blais (nee: Esquirol)
Our beloved Stephanie Blais passed away tragically on the evening of August 20th, 2020. Stephanie was a wonderful wife, mother, daughter, sister, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, auntie, niece, cousin, and dear friend.
Stephanie will be forever cherished and remembered by her husband and best friend, Curtis and their children Elie, Uma, and stepson Braxton; by her father, Hubert Esquirol, and her brother, Trevor Esquirol; parents-in-law, Ron and Judy Blais; sisters-in-law: Michele Bossaer (Louis), Tara Delainey (Mike), Lisa Blais (Graeme Sams); and brother-in-law, Chad Blais (Suzanne); along with Steph’s nieces and nephews: Courtney Simon and Colton Poitras; John, Elysa and Benjamin Bossaer; Joshua and Carter Delainey; and Danika, Liam, Jase and Asher Blais.
Stephanie will also be loved and missed by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins from both the Esquirol and Cole families, along with beloved friends from so many different places around the world.
Stephanie’s mother, Janice (née Cole) and her sister, Natalie, left this world before her in 2008 and 1991, respectively.
The Celebration of Life for Stephanie will be conducted from the Edam Recreation Centre, Edam, Saskatchewan on Saturday, September 5, 2020 at 1:30 pm. This service is by invitation only due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Stephanie was born on May 29, 1976, in Edam, Saskatchewan to Hubert and Janice, the youngest of their three children. She grew up on their family farm near Meota, enjoying all the blessings that come from being part of large extended families. After graduating from high school in North Battleford, Stephanie’s adventurous spirit and love of learning would take her on many journeys around the world, enriching both her life and those around her.
Her keen interest in social welfare and understanding human behavior would propel her to earn her first two degrees, Human Justice from University of Regina and Psychology from University of Saskatchewan. She would work as an intern for the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, later focusing on mental health and youth in Vancouver, as well as at Saskatchewan Hospital in North Battleford. It would be a passion for teaching internationally and travel that would then drive her to get a Master’s degree in Education from University of Phoenix in 2007, working as a teacher in both Taiwan and Kuwait. Stephanie’s life experiences also included volunteering in impoverished communities in Guatemala and studying as an exchange student in South Africa. She walked the Camino de Santiago in Spain and spent time at an ashram in the Velliangiri Foothills, east of Coimbatore, India as part of her spiritual journey after the passing of her mother in 2008.
Steph would tell you that these collective experiences influenced her to “see the good in people and perceive life’s hardships as opportunities to learn, experience and grow.”
In 2009, while at home in Meota, she reconnected with a local boy, Curtis, whom she knew as a teenager. That chance meeting would bring her the most precious gifts of a happy marriage and her two beautiful children. She was a loving and passionate mother, and spoke often of how blessed she was to be able to be home and raise her children in Edam. She continued to give to others, becoming an active community member at the library, the local health centre and hockey rink.
Steph had a zeal for life, living with purpose spiritually and physically. She would cherish time at her father’s bison ranch, camping under the stars with her family. You could often find her at Jackfish Lake paddle boarding. Steph found joy spending time in her kitchen, preparing and sharing with others what she had grown in her and Curtis’s garden.
She often commented that these past years have been her happiest, especially the time she spent in her yard with Curtis, surrounded by the beauty of nature and the laughter of her children.
And while we will greatly miss her physical presence, we take comfort in knowing that when we see a flower bloom in her garden or an eagle soar over the Saskatchewan sky, her beautiful spirit remains; reminding us that riches do not come in possessions, but in love and laughter. Steph would encourage us all to see the positive in this dark time and be grateful for our blessings so that we too can learn, grow and share our gifts with others.
In lieu of flowers and cards and to honour of the way Steph lived her daily life, please consider sharing the gift of your time to help others in need.
Curtis and Hubert, along with their families, would like to thank everyone for their outpouring of support and love, with a special thank-you to Janice Poitras and her family for their spiritual guidance and healing ceremonies. They would also like to extend their appreciation to Voyage Air, along with the conservation officers, support services and RCMP in Buffalo Narrows for their assistance during those immediate hours following Stephanie’s passing. Finally, they wish to thank the Edam Community Centre board members for their contribution in planning Steph’s service.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Stephanie
Leigh
Blais nee Esquirol 1976 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Lloydminster, Province: Alberta