Onalee Jobin-Bevans

Donalda Onalee Jobin-Bevans

It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Onalee. She passed away peacefully, Friday, September 20, 2024, at the age of 81, at the Mariposa House Hospice in Orillia Ontario. Onalee was predeceased by her husband of 49 years, Theodore William “Bill” Jobin-Bevans. She will be lovingly remembered by her three sons, Dean of Orillia, Scott (Fran) of Chile and Sandy (Kylee) of Toronto, and her grandchildren, Christopher, Christian and Emilia who sweetly call her “Grandma OJ”.

Onalee was born in Flin Flon, Manitoba on November 30, 1942. She was the only child of the future Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba, The Honorable Francis Lawrence “Bud” and Donalda Jobin (Lamont). Due to her father’s political career, Onalee spent her early childhood living with her parents in Winnipeg and her grandparents in Brandon when the legislature was in session. Onalee attended St. Mary’s Academy (Winnipeg), and then trained at St. Boniface General Hospital, graduating RN in 1964.

Onalee returned to Flin Flon where she married Bill in 1965, staring a family the following year. While living in Flin Flon, Onalee was a member of the Flin Flon Glee Club, and also sang in the choir at St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Church, which became the start to a lifelong commitment to singing and leading church choirs. Onalee, Bill and their three boys moved to Georgetown, Ontario in 1975, where Onalee worked as a nurse at Georgetown Hospital for 15 years, singing in the Georgetown Choral Society and in the Holy Cross Parish church choir.

In 1990, Bill and Onalee moved to Winnipeg to help take care of her aging parents. She even tolerated having Scott and Sandy move in with them while they both attended school. Onalee continued her nursing career at Grace Hospital, and in a Winnipeg allergy clinic before finishing her nursing career at the Addictions Foundation Manitoba, a job she thoroughly enjoyed. While in Winnipeg she was a very active member of both Mary, Mother of the Church in Fort Richmond, and St. Mary’s Cathedral, co-directing the music program alongside her dear friend Sister Dolores Schneider.

When she and Bill ‘retired’ to St. Joseph’s Island in Ontario in 1999, Onalee quickly joined the choir at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Hilton Beach. In fact, at one point she was the entire choir! Onalee was also a very committed volunteer with the Island Quilters and the Food Bank. After Bill passed away in 2014, Onalee joined Dean in Thunder Bay, where she once again became involved with singing as a member of the St. Andrews Church choir. Onalee and Dean moved to Orillia in 2017, where Onalee sang in the choir at Guardian Angels Church, and briefly with the Orillia Vocal Ensemble. Once again, Onalee gave of her time as a volunteer with Looney Lunch, Grandmothers to Grandmothers, and the Guardian Angels Visiting Ministry.

Onalee was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 1999. She fought that diagnosis and against all odds lived 21 more years, cancer free, until her second terminal diagnosis in 2020. In true Onalee fashion, she fought with determination, grace and defiance. 

She loved all things cats, the color blue and a good rum and coke. Despite her fear of flying, she loved to travel and was able to see many parts of England, Ireland, Europe, North America, and even flew to Chile to visit Scott and his family. 

The family will receive friends at the Mundell Funeral Home, 79 West St., N., Orillia, Monday September 23 from 7:00pm-9:00pm. Funeral service will take place at Guardian Angels Catholic Church Tuesday, September 24 at 10:00am.  Parish Prayers to be said in the Parlours, Monday evening at 6:45 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the absolutely fabulous Mariposa House Hospice. Messages of condolences are welcomed at www.mundellfuneralhome.com