Oliva Joseph Romuald Bourassa October 18, 1931 - April 20, 2012 Oliva Bourassa, late of Estevan, Sask. passed away suddenly in Weyburn, Sask. on Friday, April 20, 2012 at the age of 80 years. Oliva was predeceased by his father, Joseph (1984); his mother, Laura (2005); his wife, Cecile (April 15, 2006); his daughter, Pauline Zubot (September 11, 2002); brothers, Louis (1965) and Archiel (1967); sister, Mathilda (1967); brothers-in-law, Raymond Paulhus and Roger Storle, and sister-in-law, Alice Thompson. He leaves to mourn, his two sons, Maurice (Darlene) of Prince Albert, Sask. and Louis (Cathy) of Red Deer, Alta.; son-in-law Darcy Zubot of Medicine Hat, Alta.; grandsons, Robert and Jeffery; granddaughters, Patricia and Tanya; great grandchildren, Odin, Sophia, Bruno, Jaden and Kade; siblings, Rosalie Paulhus of Moose Jaw, Sask., Eveline (Francois) Porte of Weyburn, Sask., Denis (Annette) of Falher, Alta., Bertha (Omer) Andries of Estevan, Hector of Lloydminster, Harvey of Saskatoon, Sask., Juliette Storle of Weyburn and Romuald (Lois) of Weyburn; in-laws, Theresa Gilmore, Wilfred (Simone) Leduc, Emile (Jody) Leduc, Annette (Bill) Ruckaber, Albert (Jean) Leduc, Alphonse (Debbie) Leduc, Marie (Joe) Bean and Jean (Jim) Doud; very special friend Bella Gervais, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Oliva was born on October 18, 1931 to Joseph and Laura Bourassa in the family home on NW 9-5-19 in the Ceylon R.M. He took his education at Lacadia School about 2 miles from the family farm and attended church with his family at St. Colette Catholic Church, a country church four miles away. He was the eldest of twelve. He started working at a young age for local farmers, later learning the carpentry trade. Oliva was united in marriage to Cecile Leduc on April 23, 1957 in the Holy Family Catholic Church in Radville. They moved to Montreal, Quebec where he found employment with Pratt and Whitney Aircraft. While there, their first child Pauline was born on March 18, 1958. They returned to Radville and he worked for an electrician. A son Maurice was born on May 4, 1959. Shortly after they moved to Regina, where he worked for Canadian Pittsburgh Glass and Paint. They once again returned to Radville where their second son Louis was born on January 22, 1967. He commuted to Estevan, working in the oilfield for Flint Engineering, then moved his family there in 1971. Oliva started working for SaskPower at the Boundary Dam Power Station, as a carpenter until his retirement. During all this time he had many hobbies, one of which was coin and stamp collecting. He built himself a state-of-the-art workshop where he spent many hours building woodworking projects such as wooden logging chains, 4 foot wall watches, cars, semis (to name a few), which he generously gave to family and friends. One project he was very proud of was his squirrel condo - it houses over a dozen squirrels, which is displayed in his back yard. His greatest love was building model airplanes that were radio controlled, made with plastic and balsa wood. He loved to fly his airplanes with a local club and going to air shows. In his retirement he spent many hours working in his yard. He landscaped with lawn, shrubs, perennials, herbs and annuals. He loved his lilies. He had a green thumb for vegetables and gave most of them away. He was quite proud of his beans. Oliva also enjoyed spending many hours surfing the 'Net and playing games on the computer, and he loved e-mails and Facebook. His passion was the old time violin music. He loved going out for coffee and meals with family and friends. Many evenings were spent playing cards. Oliva will be sadly missed by his family and many friends. Prayers were held on Friday, April 27, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. in the Chapel of Hall Funeral Services, Estevan. Funeral Mass was celebrated on Saturday, April 28, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. in St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Estevan, by Rev. Joel Rama. Interment followed at 3:30 p.m. in Laurier Cemetery, Radville, Sask. Pallbearers were: grandson, Robert Bourassa, nephews, Michael Porte, Peter Andries, Cory Bourassa, Greg Storle and Rene Paulhus. Honourary Pallbearers were all his nieces and nephews. Those so wishing may make donations to the Radville Marian Health Centre, PO Box 310, Radville, SK, S0C 0G0 in Oliva's memory. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Hall Funeral Services, Estevan.
