Obituary of Sarah Teskey

BIOGRAPHY TESKEY ~ Sarah Lillian Teskey passed away peacefully at the Islay Health Center, Islay, Alberta on Tuesday, October 23, 2007 at the age of 91 years. Lillian will be sadly missed by her children Marian and Earl Evans of Kitscoty, Alberta; Jack Teskey of Islay, Alberta; six grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, one sister Doreen Gould of Vermilion, Alberta and one sister-in-law Betty Shaw of Langley, British Columbia. The funeral service for Lillan was conducted from the Kitscoty United Church, Kitscoty, Alberta on Monday, October 29, 2007 at 2:00 P.M. with Reverend Bob Aldrich officiating. Leader of song was Betty Evans. Hymns sung were processional “Joyful Joyful, We Adore Thee”, “It Is Well With My Soul” “Because He Lives,” and recessional “Abide With Me.” Active pallbearers were Rick and Julie Evans, Angela and Jerry Yarmuch, Murray and Ramona Evans, Judy Teskey, Andrew Evans, Mark and Teresa Evans, Leanne and Sanj Bhardwaj. Interment was held at the Islay Cemetery. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd., of Lloydminster, Alberta administered the funeral arrangements. Grandma was born in Perdue, Saskatchewan in 1915. She was the middle child of John and Mary Shaw who had immigrated from England. The Shaw family eventually moved to Islay, Alberta where Grandma and her brothers Bill, Fred and Ken and sisters Helda, Edith and Doreen grew up. In 1937, she married B. Teskey and they continued living in the Islay area. During the war they lived on the Shaw farm helping while Bill and Ken were overseas. In 1942, Marian was born and Jack was born in 1945. With a young family to raise, they bought their own farm three miles to the north. This land is still owned by Uncle Jack and farmed by Dad, Murray and me. In 1950, they moved into Islay and became active members of the community. Grandma curled, became involved with the school, the United and Anglican churches and the hospital auxiliary. Many lunches for dances at the hall were prepared in Grandma’s kitchen next door. Grandma’s house was always open and she welcomed after school visits by her nieces and nephews. She always enjoyed visits from the Shaw boys or Edith, Dick and Shirley from Edmonton. In 1972 after Grandpa died, Grandma needed to find work and she became a cook at the Pioneer Lodge in Lloydminster. In those days before dietary regulations and the Canada Food Guide. Grandma was in her glory preparing good hearty meals for people who couldn’t cook for themselves anymore. During those years Grandma lived with us or stayed with the Clarke’s in Lloydminster. The residents of the lodge weren’t the only ones to benefit from Grandma’s culinary skills when she stayed with us. Liver and creamed onions, Pioneer pork chops, Christmas pudding, apple crisp, and ginger bread cookies. You get the picture! With a little encouragement from her sister Hilda, Grandma finally got to travel. Alaska, Yukon, Disneyland and other parts of the United States and at 80 years old she flew to Halifax with mom and dad to visit Mark. When Grandma retired from the lodge she moved to Kitscoty and became active with the Kitscoty seniors center. She enjoyed floor curling and playing cards. Bridge was the card game of choice and she loved the games with Harriet, Agnes, Aileen and Bill, June and Ed and Elsie and Elgin. Grandma had six grandchildren and she was a devoted grandmother. Sports, dancing, piano recitals or school events: if it was important to the kids it was important to her. Many Saturdays were spent at the hockey rink. Sundays meant a drive to Islay for a visit and supper with Jack, Carol and the girls. As Grandma began to age, knitting and television were her hobbies. I would guess that a high percent of people here today watch T.V. curled up under one of Grandma’s afghans. When all the kids she knew had a new pair of mitts, she would knit some more, and send them to the school for the kids who needed them. As I mentioned before, you were always welcome in Grandma’s house, but if you did drop in during one of her T.V. shows, you were welcome to stay but visiting must wait until the show was over. Grandma also enjoyed sports on television. Hockey and curling were her favorites but this did bring out a side of Grandma seldom seen. She didn’t like Wayne Gretzky and the Oilers and she didn’t like Kevin Martin much either. She felt no one should win all the time. I think she might like the Oilers this year! Grandma had nine great-grandchildren and she was excited and proud of this new chapter in her life. Unfortunately, her ability to communicate and remember them became limited but I do believe she loved them all. Grandma lived a fairly simple life without a lot of material things, but she was always content. I think we could all learn from that. She didn’t solve the worlds problems but she didn’t cause any. She wasn’t judgmental and she accepted people the way they were. She saw a lot in 92 years, from the hardships of the depression, brothers in the war, losing her husband, brothers and two sisters to watching her children grow and raise their families. She lived a full and active life of family and friends in two great communities. Her last five years were spent back home in Islay at the Islay Care Centre. Her last days were filled with visits from her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, her sister Doreen and the compassion of the wonderful staff who not only made the last days easier for Grandma, but also for her family. This will be remembered. We will all miss you, Grandma. The world needs more people like you. CARD OF THANKS The family of Lillian Teskey wish to thank our friends and relatives who expressed their sympathy with flowers, charitable donations, cards, snacks and delicious meals. Thank you to Reverend Bob Aldrich for conducting such a meaningful service, and to John Scott and the choir for the beautiful music. Thank you to Islay Care Centre Auxiliary for the lunch at the Islay Hall and to Dennis and Kathy for catering the family supper. To Islay Care Centre Staff, we will never forget your loving care of mom and your kindness to us. Thank you to Rick for writing and reading the eulogy, to Leanne and Julie for the readings and to the grandchildren who acted as pallbearers. Grandma would be proud of you. Our sincere appreciation to Dale McCaw and McCaw Funeral Service Ltd for the professionalism and compassion you showed our family. Jack Teskey & Family Earl and Marion Evans & Family Donations in memory of Lillian may be made to a Charity of the Donor's Choice.