Obituary of Gladys Tkatchuk
Gladys was born on May 8, 1947, on a farm NW 20 – 44 – 7 South of Prairie River to parents Joe and Nellie Ferkleyko; a sister to brother Ed. She attended Prairie River School and graduated in June of 1965. She was one of two students who graduated that year. She played sports during her school days and really liked curling. She spent a lot of her young days working in her Mom and Dad’s café and store, plus looking after her two brothers, Ed and Randy, as Mom was quite sick with asthma and was frequently in the hospital.
In 1963, Gladys and her brother Ed travelled to Saskatoon with friends and entered a Jive contest at the Manhattan, where they won first prize – each winning a year’s supply of Brylcreem. On July 4, 1965, Gladys was crowned Prairie River Jubilee Queen at the Annual Sports Day. In 1965, Gladys went to work in Saskatoon at a drug store.
In 1966, Gladys married Harry Stefanyshyn and they moved to Thompson, MB where Harry worked. In the fall of 1967, she started work for the Hudson Bay Company. She was a clerk and she also modelled and advertised for the Bay. She took training and became a fur buyer for the company. Gladys was sent to Dryden, ON, to help set up and open a new Bay store. She later became the first woman manager in Northern Manitoba. Gladys and Harry’s lives took separate paths and they divorced. Following her divorce, Gladys travelled extensively to help manage Bay stores. Gladys was sent to Brandon, The Pas, Lloydminster, and Yorkton. The company wanted Gladys to transfer to Kitimat, BC or Gander, NL, however Gladys stayed in Yorkton until her retirement.
Gladys met Leonard Tkatchuk from McNutt – the true love of her life – and they were married on October 20, 1990. They were the perfect couple, everything was done together and they enjoyed everything: farming, travelling, playing cards, dancing, fishing, cooking, and of course going to casinos. Gladys worked at the post office in McNutt, where she also started a catering business with help from neighboring farm wives and school students. Gladys was so good that she couldn’t keep up with the offers that she had. Leonard died in April of 1998. Gladys continued to cater and farm with the help of her father Joe and brother Randy.
Gladys’s catering company was busier than ever, catering weddings, anniversaries, parties, and funerals. She would also cater a three-day Lion’s Annual Meeting in Esterhazy, where she would make breakfast, lunch, and supper for 300 people. Gladys had to close her catering business because it was getting too hard to find help and travel so far, as well as receiving a diagnosis of diabetes. Gladys sold the farm and equipment in 2002 and moved to Yorkton, where she did part-time work for a caterer.
Gladys never spent a day in hospital until 2007, when she was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 60. She battled fiercely with treatments and constant travel to Regina. After a five-year battle, she was diagnosed cancer free, but the treatments took a toll on her health, effecting her diabetes and kidneys.
In 2008, Dr. Bhanu Prasad, a nephrologist, hired Gladys to cater a Christmas meal for his staff. He was so impressed with the food that he hired Gladys for more Christmas and New Year meals. Who knew that Dr. Prasad would later become Glady’s nephrologist. They became the best of friends, each admiring the other one’s special talents.
On December 31, 2019, Gladys was admitted to Yorkton and District Hospital where she spent the next two years in and out of Yorkton, Hudson Bay, and Regina hospitals. In June of 2021, Gladys was admitted to Melody Manor in Yorkton Long Term Care with one right leg and half of her left leg was amputated. Gladys still had to go to dialysis three times a week.
Gladys enjoyed phoning friends and family and saying her favourite line, “So what’s new?” Gladys had a huge, kind heart. Everything Gladys did she put 100% effort and perfection into. There was nothing she wouldn’t do for you or anyone. She will be greatly missed.
Gladys is predeceased by her father Joseph Ferleyko and her brother Edward Ferleyko. She is survived by her mother Nellie Ferleyko, her brother Randy Ferleyko, her brother-in-law Ron (Marlene) Tkatchuk and her sister-in-laws Diane Ferleyko and Linda Tkatchuk.
The Funeral Service was held on Thursday, May 30, 2024 from the Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre with Crystal Bailey, Certified Celebrant officiating. The eulogy was given by Lorraine Waskowic and Randy Ferleyko shared words of remembrance. The urn bearer was Randy Ferleyko.
Memorial donations in memory of Gladys may be made to the Prairie River Seniors Centre (c/o Box 37, Prairie River, SK S0E 1J0) or to a Charity of One's Choice as gifts of remembrance.
