Obituary of Rose Smysnuik MacLean
The family of Rose Smysnuik-MacLean sadly, but at the same time, joyfully, announces her passing from death into eternal life on November 19, 2025. After a life well lived, Rose passed away at her care home at Samaritan Place in Saskatoon with her family at her side.
Rose was born on the family farm at Beckingham District (Ituna) on February 10th, the seventh child of John and Katie (Babij) Krywulak. She attended Bon Accord school until the 7th grade. Going to school was a 4 mile walk a day – summer and winter. Growing up, the two most important things in the Krywulak family were God & family, values that guided her every step and inspired those around her.
Rose met Tony Smysnuik at a dance in Beckingham Hall when Tony was home on leave after serving seven years in the Royal Canadian Navy. They were united in marriage on October 17, 1948 and moved to the homestead in the Church Hill district where they farmed. Rose & Tony were blessed with 4 boys – Morris, Orest, Gerry & Ed. They were also blessed with 6 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.
After many years of farming, Rose & Tony moved to Ituna where Rose worked for the IGA grocery store as a cashier, and Tony worked for the Town of Ituna. A few years later, Rose and Tony moved to Yorkton to manage the Westview Apartments for the next 23 years. Rose was exceptional at this job and somehow managed to keep the apartments completely full. She enjoyed this role and continued to manage the Westview Apartments for another 5 years after Tony passed away. In addition to the managing the Westview Apartments, Rose also worked as a cashier in Zellers.
After Tony passed away in December 1992, Rose married Dan MacLean on September 6, 1997. They just recently celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary. In 2019, Rose and Dan moved to Saskatoon and took up residence at St. Volodymyr Villa. Then in 2024, Rose moved to Samaritan Place when her health became more challenging.
Faith was extremely important to Rose and Tony, and then subsequently Dan. All were very active members of the St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Yorkton. Praying the Rosary every day, and sometimes twice a day, was routine and customary.
Rose was an exceptionally good cook, her speciality being perogies, cabbage rolls, potato pancakes and coconut cream pie. With four boys in the family, there was never any leftovers. Her yard was always meticulously well manicured and her garden exquisite with no weeds. In this regard, she maintained a very high standard much to the chagrin of us four boys who very often complained about having to pull weeds and hoe a very large garden.
In retirement, Rose travelled to many places in Canada, United States and the Carribean, but her most favorite and enjoyable past time was R’ving. Another pastime she enjoyed doing successfully was some financial planning at the casino, or the bingo hall.
Rose will be lovingly remembered for her feisty spirit, strength of unshakeable character, witty comebacks and sense of humor. But Rose also was not afraid to speak her mind, and while her opinions were often strong, they were always rooted in a deep sense of what was right and wrong, even if you didn’t always agree. Her advice, whether you asked for it or not, was always honest, wise and delivered with nothing in mind but love. Rose was a faithful servant of God and her love for her family was always fierce and unconditional. Nothing superseded her love of God and the family. She was exceedingly and quietly proud of her family, but never to the point of boasting about it. Her motto was you don’t have to tell people how great you are, people will notice it themselves.
Rose is survived by her husband Dan MacLean, sons Morris (Rita); Orest (Shelley); Gerry; Ed (Katrina), her grandchildren Kim (John); Kristin (Craig); Stephen (Julia); Katie (John); Jordan; Toni (Keanan), her great grandchildren, Emma Morrall, Joshua Morrall, Sophia Morrall, Noah Morrall, Layla Smysnuik, Lily Smysnuik, Claire Rose Kelly and Foster Mak, her sister Olga Kozun and brother Bill (Sylvia)Krywulak, sister-in laws, Sister Florentine Smysnuik, SSMI, Lillian Gelowitz and brother-in-law Nestor Smysnuik (Natalie). Rose is also mourned by Dan’s daughters Terry (Sam) and Heather (Rob), and their extended family. Rose will be re-united in eternal life with her parents John & Katie Krywulak, her husband, Tony Smysnuik, her brothers and sisters, Metro, John, Peter, Eva, Mary, Sophie, Mable, and great grandson, Cairo Benner.
Though Rose has departed, her spirit remains, passionate, faithful and full of love. She will be deeply missed but forever remembered.
Вічна Пам'ять, Eternal Memory!!
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Bailey's Funeral Home.
Prayers were held on Sunday, November 30, 2025, at St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church, Yorkton, with the Rosary preceding. The Funeral Liturgy took place on Monday, December 1, 2025, from St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church. The interment followed in the Garden of Crucifixion, Yorkton Memorial Gardens. Memorials in memory of Rose may be made to St. Mary's Church Building Fund or the Alzheimers Society of Saskatchewan as gifts of remembrance.
