FITZSIMMONS Jacqueline (Jackie) Fay Brodziak 1966-2015 It is with great sadness and heavy hearts, we, the family of Jackie Fitzsimmons of Bienfait, SK announce her passing on September 24th, 2015 at St. Josephs Hospital in Estevan, SK.
It is with great sadness and heavy hearts, we, the family of Jackie Fitzsimmons of Bienfait, SK announce her passing on September 24th, 2015 at St. Josephs Hospital in Estevan, SK. Jackie passed away peacefully with her family by her side at the age of 49 years following a courageous nine month journey with cancer.
Jackie was predeceased by: her sister, Debbie; step-daughter, Jennifer; father in law, Jack; mother in law, Audrey; grandfathers, Mike and Frank; and uncles, Hector, Eddie and his twin brother Ernie. Along with distant relatives and friends.听
Jackie was born in Regina on August 25, 1966 to Eugene and Sylvia Brodziak. She is survived by: her parents; her three children; daughters, Jennifer (Ben) Engen with grandsons, Harlan and Emmett, Jessie Fitzsimmons with grandson, Bentley; son, Jamie Fitzsimmons; husband, Mike Fizsimmons; sisters, Sheryl (Steve) Watson with children Shauna and Ryan, Colleen(Craig) Kickley with children Rachelle(Craig), Taylor, and Dallas (Krista); brother, Trevor (Melodie) Brodziak with children Kayla and Preston; step-daughter, Lori Fitzsimmons and step-grandson Tristen; step-granddaughter, Courtney Fitsimmons; sister-in-law, Debbie (Martin) Lynch; numerous aunts, uncles, relatives, co-workers, clients, many wonderful friends and her very special Army of Angels.
Her Facebook group 鈥淛ackie鈥檚 Army of Angels鈥� registers just under 1200 faithful Angel friends who followed her on her journey. This was truly uplifting and generous support for her and the family.
Jackie鈥檚 journey began in January and gave her only a few months at home. In June her journey became courageous, when she was admitted to the Pasqua Hospital again..听 She maintained till the end an 鈥淚t鈥檚 All Good.. I Got This鈥� attitude. Even when times got tough she still showed her wittiness, humorous side and her radiant smile.听 听
Jackie grew up in Estevan and loved life there.听 Jackie was always a loving, caring, hard working, determined and generous lady. Everyone who knew her, knew that of her. Her first job was selling ice cream as 鈥淭he DickieDee Girl鈥�, she went on to waitress at a number of businesses in Estevan.听 She worked as a labourer at Boundary Dam Power Station (outworking many men), where she met her husband Mike Fitzsimmons, who she married in September 1991. Jackie continued working while raising her 3 children, but was also very involved in the community of Bienfait where her family made a home. In 2003 Jackie decided to pursue career in Real Estate and was currently at Better Homes and Garden Realty in Estevan. She achieved many outstanding awards for her success and gained many new friends through it.听 听
Jackie鈥檚 pride and joys were her children and her three grandbabies.听 She referred to them as her precious Angels. She loved any time spent with them, whether it was walks down the streets of Bienfait in motorized cars, popcorn nights, attending concerts and all鈥痵pecial holidays. Her 鈥渂oys鈥� were everything to her. She was the 鈥渃ool鈥� G-mama that laughed, danced and always put a smile on everyone鈥檚 face.听
Jackie was an avid supporter and volunteer of the Bienfait Coalers Hockey team for many years. She also strongly supported the Estevan Bruins and Estevan Motor Speedway. She also supported sponsored听 2 of her nephews hockey jerseys for years and was their #1 fan and rarely missed a game.听 Jackie served as a town council member, President of the Figure Skating Club for years, coached her children鈥檚 ball teams, played a major role in the renovation of the Skating Rink, and yet found time to host an incredible haunted house for anyone who dared to enter. 听
Jackie was very generous and loved to donate gifts and give anonymously without expecting a thank you or recognition. Quite often her favourite items to give were benches, solar lights, and angels. She had a special spot for the less fortunate and the grieving, and was often referred to as 鈥渁n angel on earth鈥�. She loved to make people happy and always put others first.
One of Jackie鈥檚 biggest undertakings was 鈥淗eaven鈥檚 Flowered Highway鈥�.听 Jackie started a campaign to bring attention to the many needless fatalities on highways 39 and 6. She sat listening to and crying with many families that had lost their loved ones. On Jackie鈥檚 birthday, Aug 25, 2013, she asked anyone who had lost a loved one to place a memorial cross or flowers at the tragic spot on the highway so it could be seen.听 She spent roughly 10 hours that day making her way down those highways, stopping at every memorial.听 A video tribute with all the memorials can be seen on her 鈥淗eaven鈥檚 Flowered Highway鈥� Facebook page. Jackie brought awareness to all levels of gov鈥檛 and social media.听
On Sept. 23, when Jackie returned home to St. Josephs Hospital from Regina, she took her last ride down Heaven鈥檚 Flowered Highway. On August 25th, in the years to come, we will forever honour Jackie鈥檚 amazing life on her birthday and will continue to carry on her legacy of Heavens Flowered Highway鈥檚 Anniversary.听
A special Celebration of Jackie鈥檚 Life was held on October 1, 2015 at 2:00pm at the Bienfait Memorial Arena with Pastor Waylon Klix and Rev. Father Brian Merideth officiating. A special display of her angel collection and her memorabilia were displayed in a beautiful setting. Jackie always said 鈥淥ne can never have too many angels鈥�. Grievers were invited to take home an angel before leaving in Jackie鈥檚 memory. Melodie Brodziak and Craig Kickley gave a very fitting eulogy which was followed by a slideshow portraying Jackie鈥檚 life bringing out many smiles, emotions and tears. It was a 鈥淐elebration of Life鈥� that honoured Jackie that she would have loved. Even her much loved motorcycle sat proudly by. We know Jackie is riding her bike on the Highway of Heaven, pain free to be with the angels.
She will always be remembered by her hearty laugh, her humour, her wittiness, her radiant smile and her kind loving heart. She was a one of a kind person.听 She is dearly loved by her family and many dear friends.听 Jackie will be missed greatly.
In Jackie鈥檚 own words 鈥淚 Got This.. We Got This.. It鈥檚 All Good.鈥�
The family would like to extend a huge thank you to the staff and nurses of 3B at Regina鈥檚 Pasqua Hospital for the amazing care and love shown to Jackie over the past 9 months. As well as a very special thank you to the staff at the Estevan St. Josephs Hospital for making it possible for her to return 鈥渉ome鈥�. Many thanks to family and friends, for all the flowers, gifts, meals, cards, donations in her memory, and the love shown towards the family. Also to the countless residents of Bienfait and surrounding areas as well as the coalers hockey team for making Jackie鈥檚 celebration possible , Better Homes and Garden for the beautiful floral memorial arrangement, memorial cards, bookmarks, and for creating a wonderful slideshow in her honour. Jackie would be so proud. Thank you all for the prayers and support over these past months. We are forever grateful.
A private family internment will be held at a later date.听
Those wishing to make donations in Jackie鈥檚 memory may do so to the Shriners Hospital For Children, 1529 Cedar Avenue, Montreal, QC, H3G 1A6.
Family and friends are invited to sign the family鈥檚 online obituary at: www.hallfuneralservices.ca
Arrangements entrusted to Halls Funeral Service in Estevan, Sk.
