Obituary of Mary Kochenash

KOCHENASH - Mary Kochenash passed away peacefully at the Jubilee Home, Lloydminster, Saskatchewan on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at the age of 87 years. Mary will be sadly missed by her two sons Ronald and John Kochenash of Lloydminster, daughter Kathy and Michael Maze of Red Earth; two granddaughters Aubra and Goldie; three great grandchildren; two sisters Molly Stachniak and Steva Macphee, one brother Peter and Judy Harasiuk; one sister-in-law Stella Harasiuk and one brother-in-law Mike Stachniak. The funeral service was conducted from the Grace United Church, Lloydminster, Alberta on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 2:00 P.M. with Reverend Lyn Lamers officiating. The hymns sung were "How Great Thou Art" and "In the Garden" accompanied on the organ by Linda Anderson. The eulogy was given by Robert Stachniak. Active Pallbearers were Terry Shostak, Orest Stachniak, Donald Macphee, Garry Harasiuk, Terri Harasiuk, David Harasiuk, Bobbi Harasiuk and Chantel Pankratow. Interment was held at the Lloydminster City Cemetery. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd., of Lloydminster, Alberta, administered the funeral arrangements. Eulogy as given by Robert Stachniak Mary was born to Teodur and Tekle Harasiuk on December 6, 1922 on the family farm. Mary was the oldest child of seven children. Mom was counted on at an early age to help with chores as well as looking after her younger brothers and sisters. Meadow School was a two-mile walk in the good weather or a horseback or sleigh ride in the winter months and yes it was up hill both ways. Mom learned to speak English while attending school. Ukrainian was spoken at home amongst the family between mom's parents. At an early age mom started working for neighbors to bring money home to help out the family. In 1943 mom married Bill Kochenash. Mom often spoke of how it rained before, during and after the wedding and how because the house was small people had to sleep in a couple of grain bins. How they had to tow dad's car with a tractor out to a good road. Dad had started building a house in Rivercourse but the bedroom wasn't finished so mom had to plaster the inside walls and ceiling. Mom worked right beside Dad clearing land, picking rocks and roots, stooking grain and milking cows because dollars were short but life was good. After thirteen years, in 1956 mom and dad's first son Ronald was born. Mom was prouder than a peacock in full strut. Four years later, in 1960 another son John was born. Shortly after birth John developed pneumonia spending the next six weeks in a hospital in Edmonton, tense moments were spent hoping and praying for his safe return. In 1962 a baby girl Kathy was born. As the years moved on and the kids started school there were Halloween parties, Christmas concerts and end of the school year picnics. Mom enjoyed all these events, as she loved to associate with people. Mom couldn't drive so she had to depend on the mothers of some of the other kids to take her to some of these events. In 1964 Mom and Dad built another house. Anyone driving by from spring to fall would see a garden big enough to feed two farm families, Mom would hoe by hand, weed by hand, dig potatoes all by back labour and sweat. It might have been hard work but it gave mom a feeling of accomplishment. In the spring of 1979 Mom's youngest sister Olga was diagnosed with cancer a devastating blow. In June of that same year mom's husband Bill suffered a stroke and passed away shortly after. Five months later mom's sister passed away knocking the wind out of mom's sails but one thing about mom was she was one to pick herself up, dust herself off and move forward. Mom could be seen at hockey games, ball tournaments and auction sales as the boys figured mom needed to be out amongst people not sitting at home. The winters can be long so pretty soon mom would be seen with the boys when they went ice fishing, maybe mom didn't catch many fish but she always ended up sitting in someone's ice shack talking and visiting and making a new friend. Living with what seemed like two confirmed bachelors, mom was never more overjoyed when Kathy's daughters, moms granddaughters, were born Aaubra and Goldie with their birthdays being within days of moms it was one large celebration. Mom watched as these babies grew into fine young ladies that blessed mom with three great grandchildren. As said before mom never learned to drive but on one occasion right at home toward the east side of the field when mom was riding in the combine with her son John, after dark, not thinking it might take a little longer to finish the field and not thinking of turning the yard light on for a bearing of where home was John said to mom I'll put the combine in low gear and you head toward home and I'll bring the grain truck, race ahead then run back and catch up before you get close to the yard. Mom started out well but somehow managed to turn to the right so instead of heading home she ended up heading across the field, let it be said that John could have given Ben Johnson a run for his money that evening when he noticed mom not following him. When he caught up to the combine mom said, "Gee the house seems a long way away in the dark". O.K. mom enough said. Mom enjoyed helping neighbors so when it came time to butcher chickens she'd roll up her sleeves and say, "let's get at it". This is where mom picked up her nickname "Maruska" by her near and dear friend Flora Kuzyk. The kidding and bantering that went on amongst those women would have made any chicken lose its feathers. In November of 1996 tragedy befell mom once again as she had an accident that injured her spinal cord. Seeing mom laying in the bed at the U of A hospital was hard to take. After being transferred over to the Glenrose hospital and sitting in her wheelchair one day she said boys I'm going to be in this chair for the rest of my life, I've just got to accept it. That was when Mom took the bull by the horns and said you have to play the cards you were dealt with. Mom regained mobility of her hands and her upper body through therapy. In May of 1997 mom moved back to the Lloydminster Hospital for a short stay then over to the Dr. Cooke but two people to a room wasn't mom's idea of home so in August mom moved across town to the Jubilee home which she called home for the next twelve and a half years. One thing mom always said was she still had her marbles. Faithfully every day she'd phone her son John to get the days report whether it was if it rained, in the spring to see how calving was going, in the fall how harvest was going. Mom always said maybe the body failed her but her mind was as sharp as a tack. Mom always referred to her youngest brother Peter when introducing him to someone as her baby brother but after her two others brothers Michael and Matt passed away, mom referred to Peter as her only brother. Mom was blessed while at Jubilee with four angels, activities directors, Wendy, Joann, Melinda and Charlene. Mom having her marbles as she says needed to have a conversation with someone that was the say way. Mom enjoyed talking to other patient's family members and even managed to get some of these people to buy her fruit and candies. Like I always said if you couldn't get along with mom, you probably lived a lonely life. Money and possession have no values where mom is now but memories and love are held in great esteem. Mom lived life to the fullest one day at a time; whatever happened, happened you just have to go on. So in closing let us remember some of the times we spent with you mom in our hearts and our minds daily. Card of Thanks The Kochenash family wishes to acknowledge the many expressions of love, kindness and support shown to us during this difficult time. A special thanks to the nursing staff of the Lloydminster Jubilee Home for their care of mom the last twelve and a half years. Everyone of these ladies mom thought of more as friends than caregivers. The kitchen staff, cleaning staff as well as Mom's dear angel's Malinde and Charlene. Thank you to Reverend Lyn Lamers for her comforting words and friendship. As well as the United Church Choir and ladies for serving the lunch. To all those that sent floral arrangements, sent cards, sent food over to our home, your thoughtfulness is great appreciated. To Robert Stachniak for reading the eulogy, the pallbearer's moms, nephews Terry Shostak, Orest Stachniak, Donald McPhee, Gary Harasiuk, Terri Harasiuk, David Harasiuk, Bobbi Harasiuk and Chantel Pankratow. A very special thank you to Glenn and Dave McCaw for getting us through a very difficult time. Your words and heart felt sympathy will always be with us. Your attention to details of mom's celebration of life is very much appreciated.