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- Obituary
MARY'S OBITUARY
Mary Gazdewich passed away at her home in Canora, SK on August 3, 2014, at the age of 94 years. Mary was born on October 5, 1919 to Mike and Alexandra (nee Remenda) Grywacheski on the family farm located in the Norquay District, SK. She was the third of seven children. Mary attended South Willow Grove School with her siblings Martin, Emil, Winnie, Paul, Lucy, and Angie. She completed her Grade 10, which was all that was offered in school as higher education was only by correspondence in those days. Mary told stories of how their family and other Ukrainian neighbour children did not speak English prior to starting school and how the children from her neighbourhood would meet up and walk, or ride in sleighs in the winter, to school and home again. Once they arrived home, there were chores to be done. On February 24, 1938, Mary married Tom Gazdewich in Norquay, SK at the Negrych home. They lived with Tom's parents until Tom was able to build their home in the R.M. of Keys. Here they raised Edward, Stanley, Steve, Paul, Valerie, and Randy. Sadness came quickly in their marriage with the sudden passing of Edward at the age of 4 1/2. Mary's years on the farm were spent providing for her family. She often spoke of picking wild berries, making preserves, raising poultry for eggs and food, milking the cows for un-homogenized milk and cream, and harvesting vegetables, all of which were canned in the summer kitchen then stored in the root cellar. Was there ever anything that tasted better than canned chicken? Mary's parents and sisters Lucy and Angie sometimes came to help with looking after the children or big tasks, like butchering the chickens. Mary's parents would come out to the farm driving the Farmall M tractor hooked up to the wagon equipped with seating for her parents and any passengers and goods they were hauling. The modern version is called an SUV. Evenings were used as quiet time to catch up on reading, mending, sewing, quilting, crocheting, or other fancy work. Things we now call hobbies were an integral part of day to day living. Sunday meant freshly butchered cream chicken, fresh garden vegetables, and the best pies ever for dessert! Sunday also meant the company of family and friends, with lots of great food to share. Then came electricity and with it an electric range; no more sweltering kitchen, less trips to the summer kitchen while making meals, and a refrigerator. This also meant that the well did not have to keep the milk and cream from going sour, fruits and vegetables could be picked and prepped for next day cooking, and there were actually leftovers on occasion. We could have ice any time we wanted! And ice creamyum! Mary raised her children with a light hand and a big heart while it was left to Tom to dole out discipline. The children grew and through the years they left home, one by one, for a better life and a regular paycheck. Mary kept herself busy. The garden did not get any smaller, poultry- ducks, turkeys, and geese - joined the chickens, and that quilting and crocheting really did turn into a hobby about this time in Mary's life. Mary would tell you that her family was richly blessed with daughters-in-law Beverly, Darlene, Phyllis, and Deb, and son-in-law Garry. She cherished these people that her children had chosen as partners and with marriage comes grandchildren! The highlight of Mary's day was spending time with these precious gifts from God who loved to come out to play at the farm. Mary enjoyed very much the times when her children could gather. The little ones tagged along with the older grandkids to create all kinds of games and even built their own treehouse/theatre with a special performance for all the adults. But eventually even the hardy must seek a different life. In the fall of 1986, Mary and Tom moved to Canora. Tom passed away in 1992 and Mary continued to live, and be blessed with, good health in the home they purchased on 5th Ave in Canora. Here Mary continued with the gardening she enjoyed, visits from family and friends, and her faith until her passing. Mary will forever be remembered for her sincerity, loyalty, integrity, and humble nature by all who knew her. Mary was predeceased by her parents Mike and Alexandra Grywacheski; husband Tom; son Edward; brothers Martin and Emil; sisters Adeline in infancy and Winnie Filipowich; brothers-in-law Pete Waselynchuk and Joe Filipowich; sisters-in-law Mary and Adela; and daughter-in-law Darlene. She is survived by her brother Paul (Sylvia) of Yorkton; sisters Lucy Waselynchuk of Stoney Creek, ON and Angie Ratushniak of Pahrump, NV; sons Stanley (Beverly) of Edmonton, AB, Steve of Benito, MB, Paul (Phyllis) of Yorkton, Randy (Deb) of Canora; and daughter Valerie (Garry) Surcon of Sturgis. Mary's goodness lives on in her 14 grandchildren and her 22 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. A Visitation was held on Friday, August 8, 2014 from 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Funeral Services were held on Saturday, August 9, 2014 at 11:00 a.m., both from the Chapel of Leson's Funeral Home, Canora, with Garret Krynski of the Jehovah's Witnesses officiating. Interment followed in the Canora Cemetery. Those wishing to make expressions of sympathy may make donations to the Canora Hospital Palliative Care or to the Charity of Donor's Choice in memory of Mary Gazdewich.
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Jerry and Margaret Yacyshen Family
1919 - 2014 (94 years)
