Obituary of Rita McGinn

Please click here to view the Online Photo Book for Rita McGinn

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Rita McGinn on June 19, 2021, one day shy of her 96^th birthday.

Marie-Jeanne Rita McGinn (nee Bourdages) was predeceased by her husband Bill McGinn (2010); son Dan McGinn (2001); grandson James McGinn (2019) and granddaughter Katie Jane McGinn (1989). Rita was predeceased by her siblings Leonard Bourdages, Evelyn (Philippon), Germain (Fafard) and Bob Bourdages. Lucille (Tessier) resides in Regina as the last of the Bourdages siblings. Rita is survived by six of her children Michael (Phyllis), Patrick (Helga), Maureen, Barry (Deborah), Tim (Cheryl) and John (Gina); 16 grandchildren; and 12 great- grandchildren.

Rita was born in 1925 in Verwood SK. and lived her early and adolescent years on several homestead farms and in Willow Bunch SK. amidst her French culture.

One of Rita's core values was her love and devotion for her family. Mom was the pillar of strength of a large catholic family of 7 children and always there to support her husband of nearly 60 years of marriage. Rita was the shoulder to lean on, the family councillor, the referee, judge and jury, and enforcer for the family! Although she was strong when needed, her kids will remember her huge heart, sense of love and caring, with good judgement to assist all the kids through the trials and tribulations that life can bring.

Mom’s sudden illness did not deter her in living and sharing life to the fullest through her sense of humour and conversation. As said by a family friend; 'She was spunky, spirited and sassy'. Mom had a ‘Joie de vivre‘, an exuberant enjoyment of life, as a vibrant French speaking women of character.

Mom loved meeting and making new friends. She was well travelled with extended holidays over the past 40 years to interesting places and travelling as co-pilot with dad in the twin Comanche airplane. Mom enjoyed participating in sports, honing her skills in golf, tennis, and billiards. She enjoyed her retirement years at their B-Say-Tah village home on Echo Lake, where she was a member of lady’s golf league, Red Hat Society and Catholic Women’s League (CWL).

Mom transitioned to College Park in Regina in 2011 and later to the Dove House, where she flourished in making new friends and bending hearts of her caregivers. Mom recently became an avid user of FaceTime so she could see her family and stay connected throughout the pandemic. She would often sing happy birthday to the other residents and French tunes like ‘Bonsoir Mes Amis’ and ‘J’irai La Voir un jour’ (I’ll go see her one day ‘The Blessed Mary’) to her family and friends.

We wish to thank everyone at Dove House and the medical team at the Regina Pasqua Hospital 5A and 4B for their professional loving care.

Mom lived such a full life and will be missed, though we are grateful for the many memories to cherish for all our days.

Memorial Service will be held at Speers Funeral Chapel, 2136 College Avenue, Regina, SK on Friday, July 23, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. Interment at Lakeview Cemetery in Fort Qu’Appelle, SK to follow. If you wish, in lieu of flowers, comments of remembrance may be shared on Rita’s tribute page at www.speersfuneralchapel.com.