Obituary of Jane Carolyn Skene

Jane was born on February 23, 1945 in Saskatoon, and passed away on July 16, 2024 at the Jubilee Lodge in Kinistino at the age of 79.

Jane grew up and attended grade school in Delisle. After attending the U of S, she held unique jobs including working at the Royal Doulton store in Banff. She also taught in Dinsmore, and began her Kinistino teaching career in 1969 as Miss Kielo. She continued teaching and subbing here – thereafter as Mrs. Skene – until her retirement in the 90s. Throughout all of those the years she was active in the Kinettes, and was a permanent figure in the rink for two decades. She travelled and chauffeured in the province extensively for both hockey and figure skating.

Jane was a talented gardener, an expert cook and baker, and an avid and mighty shopper. Her entire family will miss her baking at holiday gatherings, especially her famous peach pie. She was also a determined (and successful!) fisherman, having a spot named after her at Lake Lenore by the locals – Jane’s Bay. After she could no longer easily get into the boat in recent years, her fishing friends aided in helping her climb in and out with a stepladder. Special thanks go out to Bryan, Tom, Gerald and Darla, Glen, Jack, Linda, and Bobby McBride for all their help both in the boat and ice shack. Her and her brother Dale lived in the lap of luxury during these regular excursions ;-)

She combined her talents in the kitchen and garden by selling her delicious wares at the Farmer’s Market. Many were able to snag one of the lawn chairs that she weaved and gifted to friends and family or sold at the Market as well. She loved to read, do puzzles, and watch along and solve her favourite crime dramas on TV.

Jane was fierce in her support for her professional sports teams – the Riders, Jays, and Leafs – and could never be swayed in her loyalties to any of them. She was able to see them all play in person, and was a fan who watched all their games on TV.

Her and Don also enjoyed travelling, making trips to Mexico, Arizona, and Hawaii with other couples. In recent years she visited Disney World, Hawaii, Phoenix, and Disneyland with Don, their kids, and grandkids. Her last trek was a family road trip in August of 2022 to Minneapolis, via Mt. Rushmore and the Black Hills, to take in two Blue Jays games – something her family wanted to make sure she did in her lifetime.

But her greatest joy was watching her six grandchildren grow up, and spoiling them to the very best of her ability. No one will ever top-up Santa’s stockings like Grandma Skene did – even Don and her grown kids will miss those stockings. She attended all of their activities that she could, whether it be baseball, ringette, hockey, football, soccer, rugby, or drama. She will be missed in all these arenas, as much as she will be missed at home on the farm. She will always be their biggest fan.

 Jane is survived by her husband Don of 54 years, daughter Lana and grandsons Cooper and Sawyer, and son Danny (Glenda) and granddaughters Abbie, Lila, Annika, and Alexandra.

Also surviving her are brother Ron (Rose-Anne) Kielo (Jeff, Shaun, David, Jordan, and families), brother Bob (Sheryl) Kielo (Brett, Jillian, and families), sister (in-law) Linda Kielo (Doug, Jody, and families), brother Jim’s children (Larry, Cindy and families), brother-in-law Gary (Ellen) Skene (Mike and family), sister-in-law Gloria Skene (Alan, Brian, and families), as well as many many great-nieces and nephews too numerous to include. Special mention goes out to longtime and loyal friends Joyce and Ken Arn, Faye and Dennis Leonard, and Jan and Jack Kellington.

Jane was predeceased by her parents Winnie and Wesley Kielo, brothers Jim Kielo and Dale Kielo, nephew Scott Kielo, sister-in-law Florence Kielo, parents-in-law Jack and Alice Skene, and brother-in-law Bill Skene, as well as longtime friends Lonnie and Stan Sinclair.

Memorial contributions in memory of Jane may be directed to the Kinistino Health Care Auxiliary, Kinistino, Sask.