Claudia Josephine Jestin was born to Hypolite (Paul) and Margaret (Quaid) Jestin July 4, 1919 at Watson Hospital. Mom’s first home was a log       granary, the only building on their homestead section in Kermaria.

Mom was the oldest of four. Claudia, Robert, John and Margaret (then known as Babe). The family moved to Naicam as the children got older. Mom fell in love with Tom Ponath, and married during wartime in Regina, March 6, 1943.  After the war, Mom and Dad purchased the Ponath     homestead from his family and they started their own family:  Linda, born 1947, Lyle Thomas, 1951 and Donna Lee 1957.

Claudia was very active in the Naicam community, volunteering with the Catholic Women’s League, Naicam’s Music Festival, Naicam’s Golf Course and Communities in Bloom.

Mom had many talents as well. She rode horses, square danced, curled, (bonspieled in particular!), sewed her own clothes and ours, embroidered many great works, crocheted, played piano, gardened, cross stitched and knit.  Mom owned and operated the Sears Catalogue sales office in Naicam for many years, which in those days, was a very active franchise.

Tom passed in 1980 and Mom married John Knutson. Together they  traveled the world. They were able to square dance in many of the countries they visited.  They also square danced at the opening of the Olympics in Calgary 1988.

Mom and John spent winters in their home in Arizona.  After John passed, Mom and Arizona neighbor Dan Moyer become special friends. Dan being from Iowa, would spend summers in Naicam and Mom would spend winters in Iowa and sometimes with Donna and Don in Arizona.

Claudia moved to Churchview Lodge 2012.  Sadly Mom’s vision slowly went through Macular Degeneration.  When her son Lyle passed, and after a bout of illness, Mom decided Parkland would be a good place to spend the rest of her time here on Earth.

Claudia was predeceased by: her mother Margaret, father Paul, husband Thomas Ponath, brothers: Robert Jestin and John Jestin (Gloria), husband John Knutson, son Lyle Thomas Ponath, great friend Daniel Moyer and    recently, brother-in-law Doug Mowat.

Claudia is survived by: her sister Margaret Mowat, sister-in-law Margaret Jestin, daughter Linda Ponath, granddaughter Lana Lavoie (Shaun Larkin), great grandchildren: Luke and Charles; granddaughter Janine Lavoie       Harding (James Harding), great grandchildren: Thomas, Olivya and Isabelle; daughter–in-law Terry Ponath, granddaughter Nicole and great grand-daughter Kyra; grandson Michael (Ellen Elgersma), great grandsons: Jesse and Bennett and daughter Donna (Don Rumberger). Claudia had many nieces and nephews and always remembered when their birthdays were and who they married.  Her memory was remarkable.

Cheers to you Mom.

You have never felt your age and you have always loved your life.

Like you said a couple of weeks ago,

“You know Donna, I have had a good run.  We should all be so fulfilled.”

Claudia’s Funeral Mass was held on Monday, June 21, 2021 at St. George’s Roman Catholic Church, Naicam, SK with Father Charles Nweze as Celebrant.  The interment followed in St. George’s Cemetery, Naicam.

Friends so wishing may make memorial contributions to the Town of Naicam for Town Hall Restoration, PO Box 238, Naicam, SK S0K 2Z0.

To leave condolences for the Family, please visit the online gust book at www.fedusiakfuneralchapel.com.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Fedusiak Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, Melfort. (306) 752-3838

 

• Date : 2021-06-15
• Location : Melfort, SK