November 20, 1937 – March 5, 2022

In Loving Memory of Josiane Lucie Cordonier (née Praplan) who passed away peacefully surrounded by family on March 5, 2022.

It is with heavy hearts and immense pride that we bid “Adieu” to a wonderful mother and an amazing woman. Mom was born in the small village of Lens, Switzerland on November 20, 1937. As a little girl growing up in the village, Josie was involved in many activities and events that taught her the importance of family, community and a solid work ethic, which would form the fabric of who mom was. From a young age she was always helpful and striving to do her best, whether it would be helping out at church, school and of course in the family businesses which comprised of the village’s bakery and restaurant. Some of the hard work included riding a bicycle with trailer to the neighbouring villages and supplying them with freshly baked bread, as well as learning all of the skills that it took to bake and cook from scratch in her quest to help out her family.

Festivals in the community were always attended and a great joy to mom especially if they involve music and of course the colour and pageantry’s of the annual fall return of the cows as they came down from the meadows and fields dressed with flowers, bells and streamers to signal the end of a successful summer grazing and the start of the winter season when the cattle would stay in the village.

Mom continued to work in the restaurant until her late teens when a young man named Rene came back from Canada to steal her heart, the two of them were married and after the birth of their first son Alain they started their adventure together by immigrating to Canada. Kamloops became their destination; living with family at first then eventually buying a home of their own in Valleyview, where they laid down their roots included the birth of three additional sons Francois, Ernie and Marc.

Providing for the family was incredibly important, especially when you consider that a large amount of the food that was lovingly, grown, harvested, preserved, frozen, dried, and served was with Josie’s care and guidance. Mom’s organizational and leadership skills were amazing… in fact if we were to watch TV before dinner we would have to be shelling peas, stringing beans, whipping cream into butter or folding laundry in order to watch the Flintstones. We always looked forwards to picnics, whether it was travelling to the Okanagan to pick fruit, stopping for pictures at the Rogers Pass, Swiss picnics, or on a trip to Disneyland.

Children and grandchildren would all agree that the best gift that they received from Grandma was that of focus, time and patience. She always had time and cherished any chance she could to be with her little ones. Skiing, swimming and supporting them in all of their endeavors’ was her special way to connect and freely give of herself and her spirit. Playing games, working in the yard or garden, singing songs and helping out with school projects were the order of the day. Helping the grandchildren and being a positive role model while instilling confidence and worthiness in anyone whom she had contact with was a natural for mom.

Josie’s lifelong passion with the Church and Community were part of the fabric that our mother embodied. This gave her the natural ability to be kind, humble and tremendously forgiving person. Her longtime involvement in the Catholics Women’s League, Sunday and week day masses and being involved in the growth of Holy Family Parish came easy for mom. Never shying away from any challenge was an enviable trait.

Josie always had a way of seeing the best in everyone and of always giving a second chance, never being jealous or boastful; she had a humble and polite way about her. We are all the better and we will truly miss he… although God has a need for her and she is being reunited with her husband, family and all who have passed previous to her. Love you forever Mom.

Josiane is survived by her four children Alain, Francois (Donna), Ernie (Teri), Marc (Cindy), seven grandchildren Kirsten, Kelsie, Taylor, Chad, Erika, Liz and Jill, four great grandchildren Nixon, Arlo, Jayden, Owen.

Mom was predeceased by her husband Rene, father Henri, mother Germaine, and brother Charles.

We are truly thankful for the care of our mother administered by Dr. Miranda Dupreez and all of the wonderful team at Gemstone Care Facility; You are all doing very important and amazing work.

Prayers at Holy Family Parish, 2797 Sunset Drive on Thursday, March 10, 2022 at 6:30 pm. Funeral Mass at Holy Family Parish on Friday, March 11, 2022 at 10:00 am with the Reverend Father Fred Weisbeck Celebrant.

Condolences may be expressed at Schoening Funeral Service.

• Date : 2022-03-05
• Location : Kamloops