Obituary of Helena Uryasz

The family of Helena Uryasz of Ituna widow of Walter Uryasz, Mother of Lucy Mazden, sadly announce her passing on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. She was 96 years of age. Helen Uryasz, our dear mama, babcia and pra-babcia entered eternal rest peacefully on April, 5, 2022 with her family by her side at the age of 96 years and one month. Helena was born on March 5, 1926 in Leki Dolne, Poland to Stanislaw and Stefania (nee Traqarza) Swiatek. She was a middle child in the family of nine children. Her happy childhood and her education was abruptly interrupted as she started grade 8 on September 1, 1939, with the outbreak of the Second World War. She often spoke of the piercing sound of sirens, bombers flying overhead, and bombs destroying nearby bridges and roads while children on their way to school were hiding in the riverbank. During the war Helen became her father’s right hand in operating the family farm. Although many of the farm products were handed over to the German army, the family needed to be fed with what was left. Helen was resourceful from a young age. Her keen understanding of supply and demand lead her to developing home brewing skills. During and post war until no longer possible, she made home brew in the family barn from salvaged grain and potatoes, and her older siblings took it to the market. Helen spoke fondly of the times when authorities looked the other way for a bottle of good home brew. Deprived of opportunity for education, Helen always maintained intelligent curiosity in world politics, travel, and expanding her agricultural knowledge. She belonged to a homemaker’s association created to bring education and training to farmwives and homemakers. Helen was united in marriage to Walter Uryasz on July 29, 1951. Together they farmed 6 hectares of land, where Helen enjoyed experimental grain farming and mixed livestock. She always found a product that paid good money from dairy and animal products to unique grains which were in high demand such as clover seed. Helen and Walter raised three children. Helen was a fierce advocate for her family, and a promoter of good education, and opportunity to see and experience the world. It was no surprise that Helen came to Canada at the age of 55, and unexpectedly Canada became her home for the last 42 years of her life. In Canada Helen worked many jobs to support herself, of which she most enjoyed providing live in care, where she made many lasting friendships. Helen will be remembered as devoted wife and mother and a faithful Catholic, always praying rosary. Her cup was always full. Helen will be remembered for her sense of humour, spontaneous laughter, courage, determination and over all positive outlooks. She always felt blessed and content, never desiring more than what she had. Helen was predeceased by her husband Walter in 1984, her mother Stefania, father Stanislaw, sisters Genevieve, Stanislawa, and Eleonor, and brothers Kazimierz and Myron. She is survived by her three children: Jan Urjasz (Asia), of Rzeszow, Poland, and their children: Ula (Krzysztof Tryba), Agata, Michal Urjasz (Katarzyna), and five great-grandchildren; Magdalena, Malgorzata, Wojtek, Madzia and Mikolaj; Edward Urjasz (Halina) of Winnipeg Manitoba and their children; Jerry (Elizabeth), Joanne (Mark Cambly), Tomas (Victoria), and seven great-grandchildren: Alex, Jamie, Noa, Sonia, Hope, Willow, and Hazel; Lucy Mazden (Eddy), of Regina Saskatchewan and their children: Elliott (Shelley), Ryan, Martina (Tyler Buchanan), Eric (Dionne), and three great-grandchildren: Charli, Archer and Ella. Helen is also survived by one brother Tadeusz, of Debica, Poland, sisters Janina of Debica, Poland, and Maria of Wroclaw Poland. A heartfelt gratitude to employees of the Central Pine Care Home (Former St. Anne’s), and the medical and palliative team of the St. Peter’s Hospital for their compassion and comfort given to our mom Helen over the years and especially the last two weeks. The Funeral Mass was celebrated on Friday, April 8, 2022 from St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church, Ituna, Saskatchewan with Rev. Fr. Albert Schmitz & Fr. Andrzej Sowa OMI as Celebrants. The cross bearers were Charli Mazden, Ella Mazden and Archer Buchanan. The organist was Paulette Van der helm and the hymns were led by St. Stanislaus Choir. Fr. Andrzej Sowa OMI sang a special Polish hymn. The lectors were granddaughters Martina Buchanan and Joanne Cambly. The interment followed in the Ituna R.C. Cemetery with Elliott Mazden, Ryan Mazden, Eric Mazden, Jerry Urjasz, Tyler Buchanan and Edward Urjasz serving as casket bearers. Memorials in memory of Helena may be made to St. Stanislaus Church Box 220, Ituna, SK S0A 1N0 as gifts of remembrance. Service Details. Service When: Friday, April 8th, 2022 10:30am Location: St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church Address: 216 5th Ave. SE ITUNA, SK S0A 1N0 Interment Location: Ituna R.C. Cemetery Address: 5th Ave. SE ITUNA, SK S0A 2N0 Online Memory & Photo Sharing Event Ongoing Online Event About this event In Loving Memory Of Helena Uryasz March 5, 1926 - April 5, 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