Obituary of Loretta Lynn Ostapovitch
Loretta was born on July 4, 1968, to parents Fred and Diana Ostapovitch of Theodore. She received her elementary and high school education at Theodore School. Loretta had a full life from a very young age. At 5, she started piano lessons and, shortly after, joined junior choir. In her elementary years, she added lessons in tap, jazz, and Ukrainian dancing. She learned how to swim and played softball. But music was her passion, and despite being busy, she joined band (saxophone). She became one of the church organists while in junior choir, and eventually played for the senior choir. High school was filled with extracurricular activities such as Open Lit, SRC, yearbook, curling and volleyball. Her crowning achievement was earning her Grade 10 Royal Conservatory of Music certification while in Grade 12.
Following high school, Loretta applied to pre-administration at the University of Regina with the goal of being a chartered accountant. After a work term in Toronto at IBM, she decided that an office job was not for her. Still, math was her calling, so she changed course and pursued a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Regina, which she completed in 1991. She started her first part-time high school teaching job in Regina at F.W. Johnson. Over the next few years, she gradually worked her way up to full-time while also completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1994. Over the course of her career as a math teacher, she worked at 3 schools in Regina: Johnson, Balfour, and Campbell. She was involved in extracurricular activities, investing many hours accompanying choirs and musical productions, organizing graduations, school dances, awards nights, and even some basketball and wrestling tournaments. Music remained a big part of her life, providing music for many weddings, funerals, church services and Whitmore Park dinner theatre productions.
Loretta's love for travel originated from experiencing many family trips as a child. Later, she traveled to New York City with a group of teachers. When she gained a travel partner in her sister Brenda, traveling became commonplace. They've been to Florida, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Greece, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Mexico and more. She made several trips to Northern Alberta when her brother (Todd) moved to Rainbow Lake which included several excursions to Yellowknife. She took an interest in photography and enjoyed taking photos of her family, sunsets, flowers, and anything unusual. Loretta embraced the role of being an auntie to Todd's children, Kaitlynn and Jared. Endless hours were spent playing games, teaching piano and math, visiting museums, and so much more.
Loretta’s love for the farm began in childhood with many wonderful memories of trips to the field for lunch, riding in the grain truck with her dad, being mom’s “little helper”, playing with her siblings in the yard, and learning many skills from the aunts and uncles. Loretta enjoyed the privilege of living on a two house yard surrounded by extended family. Throughout her teaching career, she traveled home to celebrate countless holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries. Loretta retired in June, 2021 and she started spending nearly half her time at the farm with her mom and dad. Her passion for life transformed from being in the classroom to long daily walks, gardening, cooking, reading, shopping and travelling. She was even ready to take on the role of being a combine pilot if needed. She maintained many relationships over the years, not just with her immediate family, but with many cousins and friends as well. In retirement, she took advantage of her newfound time and poured it into all of the people she loved.
Loretta is predeceased by her brother, Glen. She leaves to cherish her memory: her parents, Fred and Diana; sister Brenda (Stephen); brother Todd (Andrea); niece Kaitlynn; nephew Jared; surviving aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
“A Life of Math, Music and Family”
A family service was held on July 5, 2025 at Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre in Yorkton, SK with Rev. Karen Kuzek officiating. Gifts of remembrance in memory of Loretta can be made to the Theodore United Church (Box 415, Theodore, SK S0A 4C0) or Big Brothers Big Sisters of Regina.
