Prayer Service 7:00 p.m. Sunday, January 21, 2018 Descent of the Holy Spirit Ukrainian Catholic Church Wadena, Saskatchewan Divine Liturgy 11:00 a.m Monday, January 22, 2018 Descent of the Holy Spirit Ukrainian Catholic Church Wadena, Saskatchewan Ann was born May 5, 1922 on the Zimrose family farm in the Ponass Lake district about 9 miles north-west of Hendon, Saskatchewan. She was the third child of fourteen born to Martin and Mary Zimrose. Her parents were farmers, as were her grandparents on both sides. Ann and her siblings grew up in a two-story log home where the children slept upstairs, but never had a bedroom of their own. She learned at an early age how to work hard on the farm, which was something she maintained for the rest of her life. Ann passed away January 9, 2018 at the Wadena Union Hospital. She was predeceased by husband Paul in 2006, son David in 1995, daughter-in-law Carolyn in 1990, and daughter-in-law Wendy in 2016. She is survived by her children Karess (Ralph) Latta, Eleanor (Bob) Masters, Brian Stasiuk (partner Laura), and Bonnie (David) Harvey; ten grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; eight siblings; and numerous nieces and nephews. Ann loved going to school and attended a country school with 40 other local children, but she left school at the age of 15 years to work on her grandparent’s farm. Following that, she obtained her first full-time work at the Wadena Union Hospital, where she worked for three and a half years and enjoyed it very much. Dances were a favorite form of entertainment for the young adults of that time, and they often walked several miles across the fields to attend them at various local halls. At one of these dances, a handsome young local boy named Paul Stasiuk noticed that the cute little Zimrose girl he had first met at Sunday school was now a pretty young lady. This started a courtship which resulted in their marriage four years later. They were married on June 8, 1944 and lived in a small house north-west of Hendon. After that house burned down, they moved in with Paul’s parents on the family farmstead. In 1947 they began operating a business in Hendon called Ann’s Café and Groceteria. With farmers hauling grain to the elevators and hungry railway crews needing meals, the hours of operation were very long and difficult. Ann was well known for her wonderful cooking, and especially for her delicious pies. In 1952 they traded the café for a parcel of land and started their own farm. They eventually moved back onto the Stasiuk family farmstead north-west of Hendon and continued farming, raising their family of five children along with countless cows, horses, ducks, pigs, chickens, turkeys, dogs, cats and even a sheep. When they retired to Wadena in 1983, the hard work did not end there as Ann continued to grow a big garden in town, and no one ever left her home hungry. In Wadena, Ann enjoyed going to the Drop in Centre where she loved to play cards and shuffleboard. She was also a member of the Hospital Auxiliary. The ultimate joy in her life was the time she spent with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Ann always maintained a strong faith, and because of her devotion to God and her family was able to get through some very sad and difficult times. Mom, you were the most selfless and caring person. You always thought of the needs and concerns of others before your own. You were the “Rock” of our family, and will be greatly missed by us all. Rest peacefully, dear Mom, in the arms of the Lord. Eulogy by Angela Jones - Anne's grandaughter I tried to keep this to a reasonable length but it is pretty tough when you are trying to condense 96 years into 5 or 10 minutes. Auntie Bonnie found a bit of history, penned by Grandma herself so I will start by reading you her story in her own words. My full name is Annie. I was named after my mother’s sister Annie. I was born at home on the farm on May 5, 1922 I had 13 sisters and brothers Steve, Kate, Mike, Rosie, Nick, Nelly, Alex, Lena, Doris, Pat, Helen, Melvin, Alice. Steve was the best behaved and Alec was the naughtiest. (Although I asked her this question just a few months ago and she said that Nick was the best behaved and Melvin was the naughtiest so maybe they will have to share the good and naughty awards.) We all got along well, our parents were quite strict so we did not dare to fight. When I was young we lived in a log house on the farm. It was big, two roomed with the kitchen and dining, a small bedroom and an upstairs where the children all slept. At home we played softball, hide and seek and Fox and the geese. At supper time I liked baked potatos and homemade macaroni chicken soup. I did not like cabbage soup. I did not argue with my parents and did as I was told. My parents gave us spending money about $.25 when we went to a picnic. We had to earn it by doing chores. My best birthday was when I went to school and got a few of my friends to come down for a birthday cake and homemade soft drink of lemonade. At Christmas time on Christmas Eve supper we had 12 dishes. Also dad brought a little bit of hay to put on the floor. My best Christmas present was a doll. (When I asked Grandma one time if they had any other Christmas traditions she said for a few years they used a Sheaf of grain for a Christmas tree because the spruce trees were all to far away to chop down and drag home.) We were allowed to listen to the music on the radio which was a two battery one. There was a lot of country music and Cowboys songs country music was our favourite. I enjoyed going to school and studying. We walked to school through the field which was closer than by road. There were 40 children eight grades and one teacher. At school we played softball and football. My brother and I did the janitor job in the later of our school years. I was 15 when I left school and I worked for my grandparents on the farm. The first clothes I bought with the money I earned was a dress and a pair of shoes. We went to the hall in the country on weekends to the dances and we went to church choir practice on week evenings. My first full-time job was working in the Wadena Union Hospital and I enjoyed working there. My salary was $16 a month with room and board and my hours were from quarter after 6AM to 7 PM. I worked 3 1/2 years at the hospital then I worked in the store but I like the hospital better. Paul and I first met when we went to the same church Sunday school. We were friends for four years until we got married. Our first date was going to the movies. We got married in June and I was 22 years old, Paul was 26. We had a small reception at my husband‘s parents place with about 45 people and a dance. We lived in a small house on the farm. We had 5 children. Karess, David, Eleanor, Brian and Bonnie. This is where Grandma’s notes ended. I can almost picture her putting down her pen and thinking ‘good enough, they know the rest of the story’ and of course there is more to the story. The small house on the farm, which was actually a simple grainery, burnt down after Karess was born and so they moved in with Paul’s parents. Around 1950 they bought a restaurant in Hendon and called it Ann’s cafe where Grandma worked long hours feeding the railway crews and the farmers hauling grain to the local elevators, while also raising 3 children. I remember hearing the story about all of the Swedish farmers in the area and how they were always asking for a special kind of cheese which would have been similar to Limburger or blue cheese. Grandma obliged and ordered it in but when she opened the box it had such a stench that she thought it must be bad so she sent it back with a stern complaint to her supplier for giving her spoiled cheese. She couldn’t quite believe that anyone would eat such a thing. After a few years Paul and Ann decided to trade the restaurant for a quarter of land and the restaurant stock for a house in Wadena. Paul tried to commute to the farm for 2 or 3 years and then they decided to move out to the farm. All 5 children were born by this time and Grandma kept very busy. Another story she enjoyed telling me was the day Brian ran out to tell the crew putting in the new telephone lines, that his Mom had coffee and cake for them. The only problem was that she didn’t so when an entire crew showed up on her doorstep she had to fill the oven with wood and do everything from scratch while they waited. Paul and Ann lived on the farm until 1980 when they moved to Wadena. Grandma’s last 5 1/2 years were spent in pleasant view where she truly felt at home amongst friends and the caring staff. —————————————————— I really struggled with putting any personal touches on this eulogy because I realize that grandma has impacted each of us in a different and unique way and every one of us filled a different part of her life. When talking to Keri about the flowers for the funeral Bonnie, Karess, and Elanor had a detailed list of grandma‘s favourite flowers and colors. But those were not the flowers that I connected with her in my memory. The flower that came to my mind was the poppy because I remember me and my sisters in her garden helping her to weed and listening to stories that grandma’s mom told her about the poppies that grew in Ukraine. Those poppies would eventually go to seed and we would harvest the seeds and she would show us how to bake with them. My point is that one single story or picture or flower cannot embody the individual connection we each had with this special lady. Grandma was instrumental in raising me and my siblings and she taught us a lot of what we know. She taught me how to cook how to clean although I’m sure there are times when she wouldn’t want to take credit for my ‘cleaning’ skills. She taught me how to garden how to can and she definitely taught me how to worry. But most importantly she taught me how to be kind, how to love and how to value my family over all else. This is the story that we can all connect to. The story of a woman who will always be remembered as extraordinarily kind, strong, loving and thoughtful. May we all learn from her example and not think today about saying goodbye but instead focus on carrying her intentions and her spirit of kindness with us every day. This is how we will always remember her, and that is her legacy.