Obituary of Olga Rusnak

Olga Rusnak (Lessak), age 93, passed away on September 6, 2022 at Extendicare Preston long term care home with her family by her side after a year-long struggle following a stroke. Olga was born on April 15, 1929 on the family farm 6 miles south of Insinger, SK to parents George and Mary Lessak (nee Essar). After completing grade 9 at War End School, she stayed home to help out on the family farm. She lived on the farm with her family until marrying John Rusnak on September 5, 1948, then moved to a farm of their own in the Insinger District. Olga and John moved to Yorkton in 1967 to begin managing apartment buildings while continuing to operate the farm until 1993. Olga began working in the housekeeping department at Yorkton Union Hospital following her daughter Gail’s death in 1969. She did this as a way to continue moving forward as she grieved the loss of Gail. After John’s death in 2001, she continued to live in Yorkton until moving to Saskatoon in the summer of 2009 to be close to her children and grandchildren. Olga loved to host people and offered warm hospitality. She loved to be surrounded by good company and made sure everyone was well-fed and taken care of. She was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church at Insinger while on the farm, and Holy Transfiguration Church while in Yorkton. She always kept busy with her church and auditorium functions, the Ukrainian Women’s Association, and the church choir. Faith and traditions were very important to Olga, and she shared and instilled these values in her family, who fondly remember and celebrate them. Olga loved to travel and to be on airplanes. She and John took many trips including to Hawaii, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Disneyland, Mexico, and Alaska. She continued to travel after John passed and took some memorable cruises with her children and grandchildren including one to watch her granddaughter, Chelsea, perform on the Holland America cruise ship, Oosterdam. Olga was thrifty with a dollar but incredibly generous with her family. She worked hard to make sure her children and grandchildren were supported through education, careers, and life transitions. She was predeceased by her father George Lessak in 1947; daughter Gail Rusnak in 1969; mother Mary Maksymetz in 1999; husband John Rusnak in 2001; brother Ernie Lessak in 2018; and grandson-in-law Joshua Wong in 2020. Memories forever cherished by her son Irvin Rusnak (Gwen) of Saskatoon; daughter Colette Ebert (Glenn) of Saskatoon; grandchildren Chelsea Wong, Jason Rusnak, Colton Ebert, and Alexandra Ebert; great granddaughter Emery Wong; sisters Eileen Hnatuik, Dorothy Sitko, Emily Moldowan; brother Wilf Lessak (Helga); numerous nieces, nephews, and many other relatives and friends. The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, September 13, 2022 at 10:00am from the Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre with Fr. Michael Faryna of Holy Transfiguration Ukrainian Orthodox Church officiating. The interment will follow in the Garden of Crucifixion. The family would like to extend thanks to the staff at Extendicare Preston in Saskatoon who went above and beyond in providing exceptional care and support through Olga’s last days. We will forever treasure her life and the lessons she left with us. Service Details. Service When: Tuesday, September 13th, 2022 10:00am Location: Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre Address: Highway #10 East YORKTON, SK Interment Location: Yorkton Memorial Gardens Address: Highway #10 East YORKTON, SK Online Memory & Photo Sharing Event Ongoing Online Event About this event In Loving Memory Of Olga Rusnak April 15, 1929 - September 6, 2022 Look inside to read what others have shared Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in this book. View Tribute Book