Obituary of Mary Kuliasa

KULIASA - Mrs. Mary Kuliasa of Yorkton passed away on February 17, 2010. She was 79 years of age. Mary was born on September 18, 1930 at Tuffnell SK, the eldest daughter of Bill and Lena (nee Paley) Hnatiuk. She was raised on the family farm and attended the Tuffnell School. During the Depression years in 1939, the family moved to a farm in Grandview, Manitoba. She completed her education at Grandview. Once done school she began working in Winnipeg at various jobs: a Sewing Factory, Eaton's, the Canadian Wheat Board, and Camp Shilo. She then worked at the Banff Hotel for a year before returning east to Dauphin, where she worked in a nursing home. In the early 1960's she came to Yorkton, and found love marrying on July 6, 1963 to Peter Kuliasa. The couple established their home in Yorkton. Once the family was started, Mary predominantly worked as a homemaker and later at the Holiday Inn and Imperial 400 in their housekeeping department. She also worked for a few years with the Yorkton This Week newspaper before her retirement. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, classical & country music, and tending to a large garden. She loved birds and often feed and welcomed them outside her window. It gave her so much joy to spend time with her children and grandchildren, and when she could not see them, their regular phone calls made her day. She also had a special place in her heart for all her local support group friends. She enjoyed live theatre, and was thankful to see her grandson Devon perform professionally in Saskatoon in May 2009. She loved her independence and even after her hip replacement, she spent only short time in the nursing home before returning to her own place. In her later life, she fought a long and hard battle with Crohns/Ulcerative Colitis. Due to complications following surgery, she passed away in peace. She is predeceased by Peter Kuliasa (husband), Bill and Lena Hnatiuk (parents), Dan (brother) and Ellen Hnatiuk, Elmer (brother) and Joanna Hnatiuk, Edith Hnatiuk (sister), Elmer Kleebaum (brother in law), and Bob Anderson (son in law). She leaves to cherish her memory her children; Alvena (nee Kuliasa) Dubnyk & Lynn (nee Hnatiuk) Anderson - daughters, Joe Kuliasa - son; grandchildren; Devon, Dylan & Aurora Dubnyk and Heather, Jennifer & Jackie Anderson; sister - Elizabeth (nee Hnatiuk) Kleebaum, Sister in laws - Kay Kuliasa, Josie Kulasa, Helen Kays, Ann Dobko, Marie Laberge, Elma Kulasa; Brother in laws - Nick Kuliasa and Mike Kulasa, Jean-Guy Laberge; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbours, friends and family. Prayers were held on Sunday, February 21st at the Chapel of Bailey's Funeral Home led by Very Rev. Peter Pidskalny, C.Ss.R.. Requiem Divine Liturgy was held on Monday, February 22nd at St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church, Yorkton with Rev. Father Vladimir Kolpakov, C.Ss.R. as the Celebrant. The responses were led by Ed Pindus, Colette Karapita & Parish Choir Members. The cross bearer was Myron Kulasa and the epistle reader was Theresa Beck. Honorary casket bearers included Aurora Dubnyk; Jackie Anderson; Jennifer Anderson; Heather Anderson - (granddaughters); Patsy Pratt - (niece). The interment took place at Yorkton City Cemetery with Devon & Dylan Dubnyk - (grandsons), Darryl Kleebaum - (nephew), Peter Lauf - (son-in-law), Danny Kuliasa - (nephew), Jon Hofmann - (friend of the family) serving as the casket bearers. Following the reception, the children Lynn, Alvena and Joe conveyed reflections of their mother's life. Grandson, Devon Dubnyk paid tribute to his grandmother on behalf of all her grandchildren. Memorials can be made to the Crohns / Colitis Foundation, PO Box 430, Saskatoon, SK S7N 4J8. Condolences to the family can be emailed to baileysfuneralhome@sasktel.net Funeral arrangments were in care of Bailey's Funeral Home. Service Information Monday, February 22nd, 2010 10:00am, St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church Interment Details Yorkton City Cemetery