Francis Elizabeth Babiuk (Herner)
November 12, 1931 - November 19, 2025
My Dear Sweet mother Fran Babiuk has gone to Heaven this morning to be with the Angels... she was a special woman and mother that touched so many people in her life and sprinkled her magic dust on the souls of all she touched...
She will be missed by many but none more than by her sons Mark and Sam Babiuk ... she was our center... our sun... and now our universe has changed forever... hope your dancing in heaven with all your friends... your son Robbie and our father Alex... until we meet again... you will be loved forever mommy.
She will be lovingly remembered by her children; Sam Babiuk and Mark Babiuk; grandchildren; Jennifer Babiuk, Krista Babiuk and Brett Plante, Sister; Clara Gustafson (Herner), Brothers; Ray (Jeanette) Herner and Ed Herner; many nieces and nephews with many being very special to her Chrissy Dunning, Laurie Herner, Owen Herner, Judy Vanderwood, Darryl (Robin) Herner, Eddy Jessop, Eleanor Janson, and many more.
Fran was predeceased by her husband, Alex; her son Robert; her parents John & Mary Herner.
Fran Babiuk (Herner) was born in Reward Saskatchewan on November 12, 1931. She moved with her family to the Dodsland Saskatchewan area farm a few years later and lived most of her life in and around this part of Saskatchewan. She had an amazing childhood filled with many stories some joyful and some bad, but she always made people laugh as she told her stories of her life.
Fran moved to Biggar Saskatchewan in her early life to teach at a one room schoolhouse and then the hospital. This is where she met Alex Babiuk in a Harlequin Romance Story meeting and soon, they were married. Soon a family followed with her first two sons Sam and Mark. Alex was a Welding Crew Foreman for a CNR at the time. He was traveling from one end of Canada to the other and something had to change, so off he went to Toledo, Ohio to the largest meat school in the land at the time. Upon finishing Alex & Fran purchased the Butcher shop in Dodsland. The “Babiuk Locker Plant” serviced a fifty-mile circle around Dodsland for just over twenty years. They created so many friendships and stories over those twenty years, with a few tears and much laughter. Sometimes people would come in just to find out what everyone was laughing about that could be heard outside. During those many years in the Butcher shop… along came another son Robert. Fran’s last blessing that created so much joy and many lost bets. Fran never really showed being pregnant with any of her boys, just looked like she was a bit chubby. She worked right up until the day of his birth. So, when prankster husband started telling people he had another son no one believe him and so the story goes that he bet a bottle of whiskey he had a new son… no one believed him and the largest bet Alex won for his last son was a “Texas Mickey” of Canadian Club. Fran would say so many great memories were created there.
The business was sold when Alex’s health got bad and years later was found to have cancer. Her one true love passed away in December 1989.
Fran always the learner… made many changes at this time taking on part-time jobs at Canada Post and was on several community boards and helping set up GED programs. She worked with the community college out of Kindersley to set up remote Kelsey training courses. This is how she ended up taking the Homecare Nurse Aid course because they needed extra people just to have the course run. She also took the course and was like the mother hen helping and assisting other. She was happy to achieve the course herself. That took her into working with homecare for many years. About the time they forced her to retire from Homecare an opening with Canada Post in Dodsland Post office started her next career path. Always working and always helping with community. She was part of District Health Boards, Dodsland Town Council, and many more things until a serious health issue slowed her down.
There are so many things about Fran that it would take pages to tell them all. But she had a precious amazing soul that made everyone that knew her cherish her. She made friends with everyone she met and made everyone smile around her. She sent out thousands of cards and wrote many personal and inspirational notes. She gave of herself to help everyone and will be missed by all that knew her. In this inspiration she requested that all that wish to remember her do a random act kindness for someone in need.
Fran did not want a funeral and asked for her sons to have a “Celebration of Life” for her next spring when the weather is better. Once the dates are confirmed another notice will be posted.