Obituary of Anna Skibinsky

SKIBINSKY - It is with deepest sorrow that the family of Anna Skibinsky of Yorkton announce her passing, Friday, August 7, 2015 at the Yorkton District Nursing Home at the age of 83 years. Anna was born on January 5, 1932, south of Buchanan on 6th Ranch, just in time for X-mas. As a young girl she loved to go visit her grandmother Anna for fresh baked bread and jam. As she grew up she attended Gravel Hill School and later when her family moved to a new farm, she attended Devil's Lake School, achieving her grade 8. Anna was the third child born to Sam & Doris, so she helped with the lighter farm chores and became handy in the kitchen at a very early age. She had 2 older brothers and 2 younger brothers and a younger sister to get in trouble with. While most youngsters on farms played with dogs and cats, Anna befriended a young badger named Jackie which loved oranges. I recall when Anna lived on Fietz St., she would leave her balcony door open so a certain pigeon would walk in to be fed bread crumbs. She had a very special puppy named Oreo, who predeceased her in 2007. In 1952 Anna married Walter Skibinsky and they farmed in the Canora area. In May of 1953, her son Nester was born. Within a month of Nester's birth their marriage was dissolved and she became a single parent when it was not so common to be one. She strived to make a good life for herself and her son. This meant that while she worked in Canora, Nester was raised by her mother Doris. She worked as a waitress at the Palace Cafe. After six years Anna and Nester moved to Swift Current for a short period of time where she worked at a meat locker plant. Upon her return to Canora, she worked at the Canora Bakery as a pastry chef. There was many a wedding in the area that she would make pies for. In 1971 she moved to Yorkton and began work at Community Foods as a meat wrapper and clerk. Upon the store closing she began employment with Canada Safeways until the store closed around 1990. She then worked with Locomart and Sobey's until her retirement. She lived most of her retirement at Fisher Court in Yorkton. In 2011 she was admitted to the Yorkton Nursing Home. Anna loved life to its fullest. She enjoyed playing fastball as much as picking wild cranberries and mushrooms. She enjoyed camping in the Black Hills of South Dakota as much as fishing Lake Deschambault in northern Saskatchewan. I remember a fishing derby at Old Roy's in the 60's, where I thought she won every prize. My fondest memory was a on a calm, quiet day, we heard a loon cry out over the water and she said it was like being in a dream. She enjoyed dancing, gardening, embroidery, knitting and listening to the Ukrainian Hour on her radio. Anna was predeceased by her grandfather Martin Kostishen in 1939, her grandmother Anna in 1945, her father Sam Secondiak in 1988, her brothers, Nester in 1989, Casper in 1989 and Michael in 1991. Her mother Doris in 1996, her sister-in-law Marian (Nester) in 1999 and her sister-in-law Marusia (Eugene) in 2011. Left to mourn her passing her son Nester (Rosalyn) of Yorkton. Her brother Eugene of Canora and her sister Virginia (Norm) Werner of Canora, and numerous nieces and nephews. The Funeral Service was held on Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre with Very Rev. Father Bohdan Lukie, C.Ss.R. of St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church officiating. The responses were led by Lorne Stechyshyn & St. Mary's Choir members. Everyone who was touched by Anna's life were regarded as honourary bearers. The interment followed in the Garden of Memories Columbarium at Yorkton Memorial Gardens with Iris Rae serving as the urn bearer. Memorials in Anna's memory may be made to St. Mary's Church Building Fund, c/o 155 Catherine St. Yorkton, SK, S3N 0B9. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.baileysfuneralhome.com Interment Details Garden of Memories, Yorkton Memorial Gardens Cemetery