Obituary of Helen Hnatiuk

On April 27 2015, Helen Mary (Peciak) Hnatiuk passed peacefully in her sleep. Born in Melville on September 2, 1917, Helen was third eldest, and lone survivor, of a family of eight children. She cherished her beloved Melville and never strayed very far from "home" in her 97 years. "Peaches," as her ball playing teammates used to call their favorite catcher, enjoyed many sports-baseball, bowling, and curling-and the wall in her basement was overflowing with the many trophies that she had won. Her husband, John, coached her ball team before they were married and the partnership, which began when she was in Grade 11, lasted an amazing 72 years. Helen needed that athletic ability in order to keep up to three energetic, active sons and one ambitious, busy husband. Helen's talents were not restricted to sports; she quilted, crocheted, knitted, made venison sausage, perogies, canned fruits, made jams (some from her Evans Cherry trees she and John grew on the farm), jellies and syrups, and made the best sour cabbage rolls, ever (made from her own sour cabbage). She was a busy lady; but she loved people and loved having a good time, as well. During family visits, she always made time to play cards, particularly cribbage, and would make a fair bit of money from anyone naive enough to think they could beat her. Her son, Ron, often lost the gas money needed to take him home to Swift Current! The grandchildren always knew that Baba (Grandma) would play games with them and they delighted in her sense of fun. Bingo was also a favourite evening out that she enjoyed and Helen was very lucky. Countless times she would win door prizes at the various events that she and John attended and their home was filled with all her treasures. Even when she was in St. Paul's Home, she managed to fill her little change purse with her weekly prizes. She loved winning and often used her spoils to treat John to a drink on Pub Night. In her early years, Helen worked briefly at an eviscerating plant in Melville, and then travelled to Detroit, where she stayed with relatives and worked as a housekeeper. In 1958, when John was finishing his Bachelor of Education degree in Saskatoon, she worked at an egg candling plant. For most of her life, Helen worked as a stay-at-home wife and mother; a role she performed well and enjoyed. Over the years, John, Helen and the family lived in many communities and in several teacherages; in 1964 they firmly put down roots in Melville, by building a brand new home of their own. One of the unique features of their property was a "Granny House" located behind their home. Helen's widowed mother, Annie, lived there for many years and joined the family for meals and social occasions. It was an incredibly progressive concept, well ahead of its time, and the arrangement was very successful for all. Maintaining two residences-one in Melville and one on the Sheho farm-demanded much of Helen's time and energy. She did find time to be a member of Saint Peter's Hospital Auxiliary the Rosary Sodality and took pleasure in her membership in St. George's Ukrainian Catholic Church. In their retirement years, she travelled all over the world with John, enjoying the many cultures and wondrous experiences that site-seeing can bring. Helen even scaled the Great Wall of China and received a certificate of her accomplishment as her reward. John visited Ukraine five times, but Helen only went twice; she found that riding in a motorcycle side car, while touring, was not as much fun as John had promised. All-in-all, she had a pretty eventful life packed in her 97 years, only moving to St. Paul's Home in 2012, at the age of 95. Helen was a strong, courageous, determined little lady who was not afraid of much (except fire, after her house burned down when she was a child) and battled and conquered many serious illnesses. Helen was a survivor. She and John survived the flood of 2014 thanks to all the fabulous St. Paul's Staff and Melville volunteers that made it possible. She and John didn't even mind having a "sleep over" in the new Horizen Hockey Rink. She adored the love of her life, John, and their three handsome sons, Garfield (Johanna), Ken (Dianne) and Ron (Margaret). Helen also cherished her six grandchildren: Justin, Lee, Mark, Christopher, Nathan, and Erin and was thrilled to have 11 great grandchildren: Alyssa, Paige, Emily, Taylor, Hannah, Reese, Willow, Ashton, Piper, Mikayla, and Amelie. The Lord has called Helen home to be with husband John; may she rest in peace. Helen joins her family: Father George Peciak, Mother Annie, and siblings: Rose, Stanley, Mary, Adolf, Toefl, Stephanie, and baby Peciak. Service Information Friday, May 1st, 2015 7:30pm, St. George's Ukrainian Catholic Church Saturday, May 2nd, 2015 11:00am, St. George's Ukrainian Catholic Church Interment Details St. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery - Fenwood