Maurice Robert Bossaer was born on the farm, the youngest of three children weighing a mere 11 Lbs - Idalie and Leon Bossaer's smallest baby!! He might have been their smallest but he made his presence known and left a legacy that is truly unbelievable. Dad grew up speaking Flemish with his family and only learning English upon starting school. He attended Highworth School for Grades 1 - 10. He loved math and spelling - anything to do with addition, subtraction, division and fractions was a breeze to him! Maurice met Therese at a Country Dance in November 1952 - wearing his Dad's shoes (2 sizes too big!!). When he got home his parents asked him how the dance was he told them he had met his wife!! Well, we all know that story!! Three years later they were married on September 17, 1955. The first years of married farming life were not easy. The most difficult was the loss of their first home in a fire on July 26, 1963 -- Barry was born 1 week later! They were left with 6 young children and no home. Three years later a barn fire took not only the barn but a big sow and 10 piglets. While Dad was also a farmer through and through he had a growing family to look after so, for many years he worked his farm, drove a taxi, tended bar at the Beaver, worked in a bakery, and numerous construction jobs building local land marks. He even drove a school bus! For twelve years we lived in town and then Dad (with the help of Ken, Darryl and Brian) built a new house on the farm. We were all so happy to finally be back on the farm! For the first time we could have any pet we wanted - shortly we had a "gopher in a barrel", a fox tied to a pole, a calf sleeping under the front stairs, dogs and many cats! Dad was an extremely hard worker and once on a project, it had to be done now, and done right! When he worked at Apex Concrete, a hard dirty job, Dad was so well liked they offered him flexible hours so that he could take any time off for farming he needed. Barry remembers Dad's strength -- stacking square bales on the trailer Barry was having difficulty lifting the bales while Dad came along and easily scooped it up with one hand and threw it to the top of the stack! His faith was constant throughout his life and weekly church attendance was important. Sacred to Dad were his marriage vows and living a simple, honest and faithful life. It was important that his family attend mass and dress appropriately. Dad was a practical, no nonsense "Meat and potatoes" kind of man. We all know why Dad worked so hard -- always ... for his family! Dad had a saying "I wouldn't sell one of my kids for a million dollars but I wouldn't give a dime for another one!" I wonder how much his family is worth now with 12 children, 35 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren! Dad you spent your life worrying and working towards a bumper crop. Well Dad, I hope you see what we see today; the bumper crop of friends and family here today. A true testament to a life you should be proud of.
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CARD OF THANKS
The family of Maurice Bossaer would like to extend a big thank you to family, friends, and community that gave so generously in food, gifts, prayers, and visits! We are grateful for all the excellent nursing care he received at Royal University Hospital and Battlefords Union Hospital. Thank you to Father Cuong Luong for his compassionate prayers and funeral mass. A special thanks goes to all the loving care and assistance Maurice received at the Villa Pascal before he passed away, and later the kind and considerate care from all the staff at Eternal Memories.
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