Obituary of Irene Bernhardt

The family of Irene Bernhardt of Melville, widow of Ferdinand sadly announce her passing on Thursday, May 12, 2022. Irene was 89 years of age. The Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, May 17 at 10:00a.m. from St. Henry's Roman Catholic Church with Father Andrew Sowa officiating. The interment will follow in St. Elizabeth's Parish Cemetery, Killaly. Memorials in memory of Irene may be made to St. Eizabeth's Parish Cemetery or to Mass Offerings as gifts of remembrance. Irene Bernhardt (Kopetzki) passed away on Thursday, May 12, 2022 at St. Peter’s Hospital. She was born on December 30, 1932 in Grayson, SK to Peter and Theresa (Fuchs) Kopetzki, the fourth of 9 children. Mom grew up on the family farm and attended St. Antal School near Grayson. She met Dad at a dance in Grayson on December 27, 1950. They married on October 29, 1952 and moved to Dad's family farm near Killaly. They worked hard, loved fishing, playing cards and entertaining. Mom was Dad’s life partner and farm partner. She worked hard, hauling grain, picking stones, pitching bales, then making sure supper was on the table (with dessert for Dad, of course). Mom always had a huge garden, picked buckets and buckets of raspberries, strawberries and saskatoons which led to seemingly no end of canning and preserving whatever could be. There were always flocks of chickens, ducks and turkeys. Even in the later years, when they lived in Killaly, there was still a large garden which she enjoyed nurturing. In 2012, Mom and Dad moved to Heritage House in Melville. Mom enjoyed living there and made many special friends that will miss her. She certainly kept busy reading, playing cards or bingo and looked forward to the entertainment and celebration meals. After Dad passed in 2016, Mom began receiving Meals on Wheels. She was so grateful to be free of cooking and baking - her least favourite chores. Mom was a strong independent woman. In 2017, she flew for the first time, to visit her sister, Theresa, in Yuma. She absolutely loved the visit, the climate and the oranges! Included was a quick trip to the ocean, she was so excited to see an ocean for the first time. Irene was predeceased by her loving husband, Ferdinand in 2016; son-in-law, Wayne Speidelsbach in 1991; her parents, Peter and Theresa (Fuchs) Kopetzki; her sisters and brothers-in-law, Maria (in infancy), Ferdinand, Matilda (Adam) Hanowski, Wilfred, Ewald and Peter; father and mother-in-law, Zack and Catherine (Chastkavich) Bernhardt; sisters and brothers-in-law, Alvina (Tony) Ludwar, John (Minnie) Bernhardt, Alvina Bernhardt. To honor her memory, Irene leaves her 3 children, 4 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren: Brenda Speidelsbach and her children, Devon, Lisa (Lainey & Danika) Speidelsbach, Marnie, Colin (Daxen) Levesque; David and Lyn Bernhardt; Wade and Cindy Bernhardt and their children, Drew, Sharla (Blaire & Charlee) Bernhardt, Kyle, Aranda (Sloan & Hayes) Bernhardt. Irene will be remembered by her brother, Siegfried Kopetzki; sister, Theresa (Pat) Hahn; sister-in-law, Marjorie Kopetzki; brother-in-law, Zack Bernhardt, sister-in-law, Donalda (Bill) Goretz and many nieces and nephews. Mom was able to live her best life, in her home, thanks to all the people who supported her to the end. Thank-you! Mom was a kind and gentle soul who will be missed by all that knew her. Service Details. Service When: Tuesday, May 17th, 2022 10:00am Location: St. Henry's Roman Catholic Church Address: 729 Main St. MELVILLE, SK S0A 2P0 Interment Location: St. Elizabeth's Roman Catholic Parish Cemetery Address: Highway 47 KILLALY, SK S0A 1X0 Online Memory & Photo Sharing Event Ongoing Online Event About this event In Loving Memory Of Irene Bernhardt December 30, 1932 - May 12, 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