Adela Kowalyshyn

KOWALYSHYN, Adela Maria (nee Brezinski), beloved wife of the late Mike Kowalyshyn, passed away peacefully at the Invermay Health Centre at the age of 91 years. Adela was born on September 1, 1926 to Stanislaus and Annie (Derkatch) Brezinski in the Dernic district.  She received her schooling up to the eighth grade at Wolna School and then helped out with the farm work on her parents’ farm. On October 25, 1944 Adela was united in marriage to Mike Kowalyshyn at St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church in Rama, Saskatchewan.  After being married they lived and farmed eight kilometres north of Rama.  After renting land for two years, they then purchased it from Steve Tretiak.  They farmed this land on a small scale and encountered many hardships.  At first, they began with only 10 acres of cleared land and all field work was done both by hand and with horses.  It continued like this for seven long years and then they managed to clear more land and purchase some machinery.  As time progressed, things got better.  They built a new home in 1959.  In the years that followed a transition to more land and larger machinery was made. Besides being a home keeper, raising the family and cooking the meals, she worked outdoors, on the field, raising livestock and tending to the domestic animals and birds in the barnyard.  They resided and farmed the family farm until 1993, then retired to Canora, Saskatchewan. They rented a house for one year then built their second new home in 1994.  They were together until Dad’s passing on July 1, 1996.  She lived alone until July 2014 when her mobility failed and she realized she could not be alone.  She then spent 2 weeks in respite at the Invermay Health Centre, 5 weeks at Aspen Bluffs in Yorkton and on September 14, 2014 she moved to her permanent residence at the Invermay Health Centre and resided there until her passing.

Mother was devoted to her religion as she attended Mass every Sunday and when she was no longer able to walk or drive she attended Mass once a month at the Health Centre.  She also watched Mass on TV every Sunday on EWTN.  She attended many pilgrimages at the Lady of Lourdes Shrine in Rama.  Her biggest passion was gardening, cooking and baking, crocheting, sewing and watching TV.  She loved playing her Ukrainian cd’s and never missed the Saturday Night Get Together on CJGX.  During her retirement she loved playing bingo at the Keen Age Centre in Canora and the Golden Jets in Rama. Mom truly loved all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mom valued education and encouraged everyone to work to their fullest potential and thus was able to attend her many grandchildren’s graduations with the last one being in June 2017.  She will be dearly and sadly missed by all who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her daughters:  Marge (Ken) McCabe, Sherrie Maloney, Violet Vandervoet, Joyce Kowalyshyn, Marie Kowalyshyn and Rena (Donald) Webb; Sons:  Joseph (Mary), Walter (Elaine), Eugene (Sandi), Michael (Sue) and Nick (Debbie).  She is survived by 18 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren; sister:  Helen Yasinski; brothers:  Edward Brezinski, Edmund (Isabelle) Brezinski, Bernard (Sylvia) Brezinski; sisters-in-law:  Olga Novakowski, Ann Kozuska; brothers-in-law:  Bill (Ollie) Kowalyshyn, Steve (Marianne) Kowalyshyn, John (Judy) Kowalyshyn and Lawrence (Carol) Kowalyshyn.

Adela was predeceased by her parents:  Stanley and Annie; her husband:  Mike; her daughter:  Olga Holstien; her granddaughter:  Marianne Kowalyshyn; her sisters:  Steffie Wionzek, Lena Bugera, Rose Wolkowski; her sisters-in-law:  Mary Petrusiak, Ethel Koszman; her brothers-in-law:  Mike Yasinski, Steve Wionzek, Louis Wolkowski, Philip Bugera, Joe Novakowski, Bill Petrusiak, John Koszman and Nick Kozuska.

Prayers were held the evening of November 28, 2017.  Mass of Christian Burial was held November 29, 2017 both services were held from St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Church, Rama, Sk., with Fr. Michael Pajak O.M.I. officiating and Fr. Andrew Sowa O.M.I. as concelebrant. Adela was laid to rest beside her husband Mike at the Canora Cemetery, Canora, Sk. Those who so desire may make memorial donations to the Lady of Lourdes Grotto Memorial Fund or as Mass Offerings in memory of Adela. To leave a note of condolence for the family or to view a video tribute of Adela, please visit Wolkowski.ca