Prayer Service 7:00 pm Friday, March 4, 2016 The Chapel of Narfason's Narfason's Funeral Chapel Wynyard, Saskatchewan Funeral Service 10:00 am Saturday, March 5, 2016 Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church Wynyard, Saskatchewan Mary Popadynetz was born to Michael and Mary Bashutsky in the Round Hills District. She was the eighth child of 12. As Mary’s life began on the homestead she would soon find herself walking or travelling by horse to Round Hills School where her education would begin. Attending school for a short time, it was soon realized that she had another calling. It was on the homestead where her help was most needed. Here Mary learned many life skills that had developed her into the amazing woman that she was. One of those amazing stories is that she was the “Bashutsky Milking Machine”. One day, as her family went to the Dafoe Air Show, Mary was left at home with brother Joe and sister Irene to tend to the 43 cows that had to be milked. You may ask how can three siblings milk that many cows, well sister Irene milked 5, brother Joe 12 and yes, Mary milked 28. She is the only lady to milk a cow in record breaking time, 2 teats in one hand. Mary met the love of her life, Pete Popadynetz, helping her dad stooking grain and so another chapter unfolds. Mary and Pete were married on June 9, 1946. They settled on Pete’s homestead 10 miles south of Wynyard. A short time later Mary found herself travelling with the love of her life to Ontario to work in a bush camp. It was here that she further advanced on her great cooking skills. After a few years Mary and Pete would return to the homestead and soon found themselves purchasing land 3 miles east of Wynyard. Together another journey began clearing the land and creating a new profound life that we all know Mary for. It was here that she would raise 4 children and create many memories. Mary loved to garden. Everything from strawberries, raspberries, corn, peas, potatoes, cabbage, tomatoes and the list goes on. She preserved everything so that no one would ever go hungry. Speaking of which, her door was always open. It didn’t matter when you would go to visit her you’d be sitting at the kitchen table while she was busy in the kitchen preparing a loving meal which left you feeling nurtured and blessed. One of many specialties of Mary’s was a poppyseed chiffon cake. Just say the word “birthday” and she would whip one up in no time. Poppies, this brings another story to mind. One day Mary was busy working in her garden and the police pull up in the yard. They were concerned that her poppy patch was a grow-op. Obviously they hadn’t tasted her poppyseed buns or chiffon cake. Mary also raised farm animals which would provide many more great meals. From butchering chickens to making blood sausage, there wasn’t anything that she couldn’t tackle. If this wasn’t enough, Mary always had a helping hand with hauling grain and pitching bales. A 12-14 hour day was nothing to her and if she was being a nighthawk, you’d wake up to dozens of perogies that had been made or roasters of cabbage rolls. With all this hard work that she did she would still find time to have some fun. She had gone from farm girl to Carnival Queen by winning a contest of ticket selling through the church. Mary also loved playing cards. There was much laughter around the farm table. Three Spot, darak, or hola were played. And where did she get her later in life love of bingo from? Could it be from when friends and family showed up with their jars of pennies to take on a serious game of Rumoli? Mary loved music and dancing, whether it was dances at Round Hills or family gatherings, she would most often be going home with sore feet. Playing ball was another enjoyable event for her and also competing in any kind of race there may have been at Sports Days. With the busy hardworking life that Mary had she was still able to make the time to come to Wynyard to care/assist for her mother. Family was very important to her and she would do anything and everything possible to help out. Mary was also a member of the Women’s Auxiliary with the church. As Mary’s life moved forward she spent her last many years living in Wynyard. Going to bingos and coffee with friends became a part of her routine as all those hardworking farm days had passed. For the past 7 1/2 years Mary resided at Golden Acres. It was here that she gained a new family, touching the hearts of many of the staff of whom took great care of her. Forever grateful are her children. Mary is survived by four children: Pat, Audrey, Eugene and Connie; many grandchildren; great grandchildren and sisters: Anne, Sophie, Kay, Irene and brother Joe. “Forever cherished in our hearts”.