Jean Zaryski (Jennie nee Zaretsky) ~ peacefully in Harriston, Ontario, on Saturday, July 1, 2017 in her 104th year.

Beloved wife of the late Jack Zaryski who predeceased her in 2000. Mother of Ruth and David Jackson, Jim and Susan Zaryski, Gerry ‘Justen’ Zaryski, and Linda Zarytski.

Much loved grandmother of Eric and Jennifer Jackson and their children Cole, Julian, Chloe and Olivia; Lara Jackson and Michael Conlon and her daughter Tatyanna Stevens; Tim Jackson and Alexandra McIntyre-Smith and their daughter Sophia; Tanya Zaryski and her son Joshua Lewis; Karl Zaryski and Caroline McLachlan Darling; Toban Zaryski; and Linda’s sons Michael and Anthony Smith.

Predeceased by her parents John Zarecki and Marya Huckan; her sisters Helen Kolisnyk and husband Mike, Anne Kotello and husband Mike, and Nettie Kichuk; and by brothers Tony Zaretsky, Frank Zaretsky and wife Jessie, Leon Zaretzky and wife Sophie and Bill Jarrett and wife Jean.

Jennie was born on the homestead in Sclater, Manitoba on October 23, 1913, the 3rd child of 8 who survived. Her parents immigrated to Manitoba from Repuzhintsy, Ukraine in 1910-11, part of the 1st wave of Ukrainian immigration to Canada.

Jean left home at 15 to work, sending money home to support the family and later to help her sister Anne become a teacher. She was adventurous and took a job in Cranberry Portage, MB in 1930 when she was only 17. A position with the Mason family took her to Regina and later to Toronto.

She had met Jack in The Pas in 1936 and he later followed her to Toronto where they married in 1939. For 11 years she ran a rooming house on Charles St. and they saved to buy the house on Westgate Blvd. in North York where they raised their children. In 2005 the house was sold and she move to Caressant Care in Harriston.

Jean was a kind and caring person, always positive and gracious. Her love was felt and appreciated not only by her children, grandchildren , great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews, but also by anyone whose life she touched.

Friends may visit at the Hardy-Lee Funeral Home, Harriston on Thursday from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m The funeral service will be held at Knox-Calvin Presbyterian Church, Harriston on Friday July 7th at 11:00 a.m.

The committal service will be held at York Cemetery, Toronto on Monday, July 10th at 11:00 a.m.

Memorial donations to The Heart and Stroke Foundation, Toronto or charity of choice would be appreciated.

Our gratitude to all staff at Caressant Care Nursing Home, Harriston.