Prayers Sunday, July 26, 2015 7:30 p.m. Holar Ukrainian Catholic Church Funeral Service Monday, July 27, 2015 10:30 a.m. Holar Ukrainian Catholic Church Edward Petryshyn, our dad, husband, grandfather, greatgrandfather, uncle, brother and friend passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 22, 2015 at Wynyard, Saskatchewan at the age of 78. Edward was born in Wadena Saskatchewan on December 2, 1936. Predeceased by his parents Fred and Emily Petryshyn he is survived by his wife Lorraine with whom he shared 56 years, his children Dan (Marie), Carol (Wes), Bernadette (Gordon), Jeremy (Terra) his grandchildren Michael, Nicole (Dale), Danielle, Dylan, Chelsey (Travis), Logan, Cherelle (Randy), Cody (Jen), Jesse and most recent Cage as well as greatgrandson Leland. He is also survived by his sisters Mary, Anne, Sandra, Elsie (Gordon), Theresa (Arnold). Edward graduated grade 8 from Lily White School. After working a few years on the farm Ed headed for the big city of Regina where he worked at a concrete plant. His attraction for country living brought him back at the age of 22 to marry Lorraine Lazorko on June 20, 1959. They both moved to Regina where they honeymooned until spring, then returning to rent & farm the land of Lorraines parents Fred and Anne Lazorko and start a family. In 1962 they purchased the land of Eds parents where they built a new house in 1977. Over the years he purchased more land and raised over 60 head of cattle. As years progressed his sons decided to add land of their own and help Ed farm in exchange for the use of his machinery. To take a break from farming Ed made numerous trips to Las Vegas with side trips to Yorkton to try his luck. Ed even ventured to Mexico to visit with Elsie & Gordon. In the last few years the farming operation was downsized and all the land was rented out to neighbours this spring as the joy of farming was harder to achieve. Memorials in memory of Edward may be made to the Holar Cemetery Fund. EULOGY For those of you who don't know me, my name is Jeremy Petryshyn and I have had the honour of being Ed Petryshyn's son for the past 40 years. I am up here on behalf of my mom Lorraine my brother Danny my sister Carol as well as my sister Bernie who is beside me to provide the support I require as we remember our dad's life. You will have to forgive me if my presentation skills are a little off or if I pause for long durations. You see, our dad was in our lives for many, many years and this is only the fifth day we have ever had to experience without him. Our dad was a great man. He was not perfect, but being a great man does not mean "without mistakes". We will not be presenting any medals, trophies or awards in his name today, but then again, that is exactly how he would have wanted it. You see, our dad was always about others. He never wanted to be the center of attention. He always wanted to give more than he received. And he never did anything expecting acknowledgement or accolades... He did it because he thought it was the right thing to do. Our dad was not one to complain or to bring attention to his issues or problems. In fact, if he was here today and any one of you asked him how he is doing, he would undoubtedly respond "45-50". My wife asked him one time how come not "65-70" or "75-80" and his reply was simply "No... 45-50 is pretty good and that's all an old guy like me needs." Our dad loved his farm and took great pride in hard work and determination. I can only imagine how tough it must have been in the 1960s for him and mom to start a farm from scratch and provide for my brother and two sisters at the same time. He raised cattle and pigs, grew wheat, barley and canola, and made sure his family had everything they needed. That included all the love and support they required. The farm grew over the years as more land was acquired and better machinery was purchased. He built his own new house with the help of others and the look of the yard changed over time. But dad's determination and work ethic never swayed. He stayed true to his values all of those years while his love and support to his family and friends continued to grow. I drive by a sign shop everyday on my way to work in Medicine Hat, and the owner changes messages on the board every month or two. A few days before dad's passing, the sign read "Aspire to inspire, before you expire." I won't claim that was dad's motto that he said everyday, but I truly believe that is what he did. He didn't inspire through telling his kids what to do, but instead showed by example what is necessary to love, support and provide for your family. When I look at my brother and two sisters and their amazing families, I can see that those qualities and values have made it through to my siblings, are already making it through to their children, and will no doubt continue on to their children's children. What a great achievement that must be to be strong enough to positively affect the future of your family for generations to come. Dad did this in spades. In the early years for the grandkids, it was birthdays and holiday visits to the farm. Each time - a box of Smarties and a hug. It's funny as I talk about influencing future generations that the gift of a box of Smarties was no doubt a following to my dad's dad - grandpa Petryshyn - and the Juicy Fruit gum we got at each visit. As the grandkids got older, it was school or sports accomplishments. Dad's chest always seemed to project a little further when attending those events. He never would be in the front row yelling and cheering for people to see, but instead in the background pacing nervously, rubbing his hands in anticipation and praying for the best possible outcome for his grandchildren. Dad loved his community. He loved this church and he served to help maintain it for many years as a place people could gather to praise God. That was important to him. Dad was lucky enough to have an abundance of family and friends in the immediate area. As the only boy in his family, his five sisters meant the world to him. He loved getting together for a game of Three-Spot, or a perogie and homemade sausage feast. Any excuse to get together was a reason to celebrate. Our dad loved to laugh. It was one of his favourite things. But what was even more important to him was making others laugh. I don't remember a visit, holiday or special event where dad didn't try and bring a smile to someone else. Sometimes the joke was even at his own expense - anything to make you laugh. Dad always was the first to help all of his family, friends, and neighbours. He helped us kids with so many things. When I look at all my wife and I personally have in our life, it is impossible to find something that is not a result of his and mom's help. This last Father's Day was my first. I called my dad, and before I could tell him "Happy Father's Day" - he wished it to me. Typical dad - thinking of us kids first. I was pretty emotional that day and thought it a perfect time to tell him how grateful I was. I told him "Dad - I just want to thank you." "For what?" he responded surprisingly. "For all that that you have helped me with and today I get to be a dad and that is in no small part because of you." His reply was "That is what I'm supposed to do... That's my job." Dad went through some challenging times in the last four years. In 2011, he was diagnosed with lung cancer. The actual reason they found the cancer at that stage was because dad had just lost his neighbour and great friend - Hughie McMartin. My dad loved his friends more than you know. He took Hughie's passing so hard that he didn't take care of himself and became sick. While dealing with that illness, the doctor's first found the cancer. Our dad was maybe the strongest man I will ever get the chance to meet in my lifetime. He took on the chemotherapy and radiation treatment head on, even attending his grandson's graduation six hours away right in the middle of it. No way the cancer was making him miss that. Within a few short months, the doctors said he was making amazing progress in the battle against the disease and by fall he was back on the swather starting his harvest - only wanting to take a break when the combination of medication, heat and the rotating reels on the equipment made him dizzy. As my brother or I took over to give him a break, only a half-hour would go by and he would be itching to get back on. The cancer was not going to stop him. That October, he was able to attend his fourth child's wedding. He seven-stepped with his wife with the same style and grace as he did when his first child got married more than 30 years earlier. In November 2012, dad was dealt another health setback when he fell down the stairs and, as a result, had severe bleeding on the brain. Our family was called in and the diagnosis given by the doctor was the worst. She said that he would not live until morning and if, by some chance, he did survive, he would not be anything like the man he was before. He would most likely not be able to use any of his limbs effectively. But even more disturbing was that his personality would be unrecognizable. As his united family stood over his bed with the priest giving the Last Rights to our dad, he again showed his strength. I don't know if it was the Last Rights, or the words whispered in his ear by family members "telling him not to give up", the constant prayers, care and attention from his amazing sisters, or just dad saying "I am not going yet" but again he was too strong to give in. So the man that was not supposed to be any resemblance to his old self once again danced with his wife at his granddaughter's wedding the following summer, beamed with pride as he became a great-grandfather for the first time, went to his favourite destination - Las Vegas - two more times, harvested two more crops on his family farm, shook my hand as he met his 10th grandchild, celebrated birthdays and anniversaries, laughing and making many more memories with family and friends. In 2015, dad grew weaker. He became more dependent on mom. I tend to think that some of the things he was asking mom to do for him were things that he may have been able to do himself physically, but I believe he just wanted her close by him. After 56 years of marriage, having that comfort still beside you after all that time is a rare and amazing thing. In the last few weeks, dad was hospitalized a couple times. His health continued to fade. He was visited every day by his wife, kids, grandkids, family and friends. I was able to see my dad a couple weeks ago with my new family. We visited for a while, took some pictures that I will cherish forever and laughed about all kinds of things. The nurses came in to help dad with some medical needs and as we stood outside the room to let them do their job, we could hear dad telling the nurse about his four kids, his ten grandkids, and his great-grandchild. But the thing I noticed the most, is that his voice was loud and strong, like he was shouting it from the mountaintops to anyone who would listen. You would not have guessed it was the voice of a man who was struggling to survive. I guess that is the strength you get from pride. Even in dad's last few days, he never changed. My brother visited him near the end and dad told him he dreamt that he drove to Calgary and back in the 64 Cornbinder International truck we have on the farm. The truck hasn't run in more than 20 years but somehow he made it. They laughed together picturing that truck driving down Highway 1. As my brother was getting ready to leave, my dad said, "You get going - you have a long drive back to Regina, and don't be coming out too often - you have so many things to take care of in your life." Even then, it was never about him. Finally, on July 22, the struggles for our dad became too much. His last hour was spent like so many hours previously in his life, with loved ones near him, around him and thinking of him. One of his grandsons was by his side sharing memories of hockey games and funny stories from days past. He told him what a great farmer, father, grandfather and person he was as his eyes closed for the last time. The sun was shining brightly in dad's hospital room at 12:46 that day almost inviting him into the heavens. Dad had to finally give in. At the start of this, I said our dad would not receive any medals, trophies, or awards, but I lied. He received five medals to hang around his neck in his wife and four kids who will always love and remember him and cherish their time with him. He received 11 trophies to place on his mantle in his grandkids and great-grandchild. They will continue on knowing all their grandpa was, and that will continue to affect their lives forever. And he got more awards than you can count in laughs and treasured memories over 78 years with all you people that touched his life and whose lives were touched by him.