Obituary of Elsie Denischuk

DENISCHUK - At the age of 92 years, Elsie Denischuk of Yorkton, beloved wife of the late Fred Denischuk, passed away on July 30, 2017 at the Yorkton & District Nursing Home. Elsie was born April 1st, 1925 on the family farm, northwest of Rhein, SK, to Mike and Ann (nee Markewich) Uhryn. She was the youngest of nine children, four brothers John, Ivan, Mike, Emil and four sisters Katie, Lena, Mary, and Lillian. Elsie attended Federhill School, where her formal education ended at grade eight. However, her knowledge and wisdom grew throughout her life. She would always remember everyone's birthdays, ages, all the Ukrainian holidays, feast days, and celebrations. Mom enjoyed music. She was a gifted and self-taught guitar player. In 1948 Elsie caught the attention of a young man from Elfros, SK at the Yorkton Church Vidpust Pilgrimage. A year later, on July 24, 1949, they were married at St Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church. They started farming on a quarter-section of land next to the York Lake golf course. Here they raised their three children: Gene, Denis, and Darlene. Food was always the first thing on her mind. Dinner was at noon and supper was at 6 o'clock every evening. She was a skilled and resourceful homemaker and could prepare a full course meal out of any ingredients. Her meals were legendary. She loved to entertain guests, Christmas Eve Supper was sacred to her, as was the assembling of the Easter Basket. She loved to prepare and serve holiday meals and her greatest pleasure was to have her family home for these celebrations. There was always laughter, jokes, and lots of card games when everyone got together, which was often. She was an active gardener and always kept up a large garden with many flowers. She enjoyed nature by picking wild mushrooms and all types of berries. During the 1950's and 60's she entered a large variety of canned fruit, meats, pastries, breads, cakes, cookies and pies in the Yorkton Exhibition & Summer Fair winning many ribbons and cash prizes over the years. She also baked and decorated wedding and anniversary cakes for the nephew, nieces, neighbors and friends. These works of art appeared at most of the family gatherings, and as kids we had some special birthday cakes. In 1968 the York Lake Golf Course talked Mom in taking over the concession at the Clubhouse and looking after what she called "her golfers" until 1975. She was active with the UCWL. She loved to assist at the various church and hall functions. Elsie enjoyed working as a cook for various functions in the new hall. The new kitchen was a challenge for Mom as there is no cook-book for preparing food for 600 people or soup for 300 as everything was done to taste, getting up at 5:00 AM to get six turkeys ready for supper, plus all the fixings. For years she made Borscht for the funeral lunches. In 1986 Mom and Dad bought a house in Yorkton and enjoyed the comforts of city life. They enjoyed many happy hours socializing, caroling, playing cards, dancing and having coffee with family, friends and neighbors. Fred and Elsie were very active and attended many gatherings and special family celebrations. They loved to travel throughout Canada, United States and Mexico. Life is a gamble, and Elsie loved to gamble. When the first Casino opened her and Fred would spend their free time socializing, visiting with friends and people they had not seen for years, and playing the machines - in that order. In 2009, they celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary. Elsie was predeceased by her husband Fred in 2012. She is survived by her son Gene and Betty, Denis and Maria, Darlene and her husband Joe Coulic. She also has two grandsons and two granddaughters and one great granddaughter. Elsie's family would like to express their gratitude to the staff and residents of Gladstone Seniors Residence in Yorkton for providing Mom a warm and friendly environment over the years, the staff of Yorkton Regional Health Centre and the Melody Manor for the kind and compassionate care of Elsie in her final days. Elsie lived a good life and at age ninety-two, she knew that when the food started losing its flavour and stopped being tasty, it was time to rest. We will not forget her saurkraut perogies, head cheese, pickles, donuts and buns! She will be dearly missed and forever remembered. We love you Mom/Baba! Prayers were held on Monday, August 7, 2017 at St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Yorkton with Rev. Fathers Bohdan Lukie and Methodius Kushko, C.Ss.R. officiating. The Holy Rosary led by members of U.C.W.L.C. preceded the prayers. The Funeral Liturgy was held on Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church with Very Rev. Father Bohdan Lukie, C.Ss.R. as the Celebrant. The responses were led by Bernadette Gabora and Victor Puchala assisted by choir members. The crossbearer was Ron Denischuk and the epistle reader was Denis Denischuk. The interment followed in the Yorkton City Cemetery with Ernest Uhryn, Greg Jelinski, Ted Deneschuk, Walter Denischuk, Elsie Hayes and Norman Parada serving as the casket bearers. Memorials honouring Elsie's life may be made to St. Mary's Church as gifts of remembrance. Condolences can be sent to the family at www.baileysfuneralhome.com Eternal Memory Service Information Monday, August 7th, 2017 7:00pm, St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church Tuesday, August 8th, 2017 10:00am, St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church Interment Details Yorkton City Cemetery