JOAN KARDASH, January 7th, 1940 – July 17, 2020.

It is with broken hearts we announce mom passed away peacefully with family at her side, at the age of 80 years young. She was born and raised in Leask Saskatchewan. She is the 2nd youngest of 4 children born to Jenny (nee Hallman) & Harvey Wood. Mom was a smart cookie she even skipped a grade in school as she was very studious.

Mom was a real tomboy as a young girl. She told numerous stories of keeping up with the local boys. My favorite was the gopher tail story of when they were paid 5 cents per gopher tail, for catching gophers and cutting off their tails (proof of killing the rodents) as they were causing such havoc in the farmers’ fields. Of course mom put the boys to shame with her gopher catching skills!

Mom left home at an early age, one of her first jobs was working the old fashion plug style telephone switchboard in the 50’s/60’s. Then went on to work for a Jewelry store called Osmund Jewellers where she was employed in both his stores in Prince Albert and North Battleford.

Mom met dad (Mike) in Prince Albert while staying with “Mom” Taylor whom was like her 2nd mom, and she lived with Mom Taylor for quite a while. Dad was very smitten with mom, he proposed 3 times before she finally accepted!

Mom and dad were married in Prince Albert, Sk at the St. Alban church on August 29th, 1964. Jack Cennon sang at their wedding.

Mom and dad moved around a lot during their early years of marriage following dad’s hockey career. They finally settled permanently in Prince Albert when dad retired from hockey, buying a house on 1st Street East in Prince Albert. Shortly after they bought this house their first born daughter was born (Tonya) in 1969, with their 2nd born daughter (Nikki) arriving in 1973.

Mom was very much not a city girl, and wanted to ensure we girls could escape the city life as she adored her small town/rural life childhood, so in 1974 they purchased a cabin at Sunset Bay Emma Lake. Mom’s dad Harvey was so upset with mom for buying a cabin with no running water as he had worked so hard to afford to get running water at their house.. he just couldn’t understand why mom would want to go back to the days of no running water?!

When we were younger mom was a full time stay at home mom as dad was away so much on the road. That didn’t stop mom from volunteering her little bit of spare time she had while chasing us girls.
Mom was the head of the Parent Association for Princess Margaret School which we girls attended from K -6. Mom loved what she did there so much. Improved a lot of things including sewing ALL of the curtains for the classrooms etc.

She also volunteered for the local Genealogy society, which became a true passion for her to dig up family roots back to the early 1900’s for generations to come, to enjoy.

She was a Brownie/Girl Guide leader all the years Tonya was in Brownies, and helped sewed Nikki’s Ukrainian dress costumes, not to mention all the lovely matching polyester outfits she sewed for us girls when we young!

She was also a part of the local writers’ guild, and a strong supporter of the local Red Cross, donating blood regularly for decades to the point where she was presented with an award for the number of blood donations she had reached.

Mom sold real estate as well for a couple of years for Century 21, truly enjoyed her years doing that, however it took her away from home too much in the evenings and weekends when us kids and dad were home, so she made the tough decision to hang up her blazer after only a few short years.

Mom loved to cook and sew. She made numerous blankets, Christmas stockings, stuffed animals for family members, along with her love for Cross Stitch. Mom was the hostess of hosts, feeding anyone who stopped by. If you left moms table hungry that was your own fault!

Joan was predeceased by her husband Mike in 2007, her parents Jenny & Harvey Wood. Her mother and father in-law, Pete & Annie Kardash, her brother in-laws Ed Eschyshyn & Paul Jordan.

Joan is survived by her children, Tonya Kardash, Nikki (David) Puetz and their children Amanda & Alexis. Step-son, David (Lesley) Oakley, their children Jordan (Amanda) and daughter Lily, Erin (Matt) and children Emma, Reid & Rory, and Meaghan (Darren) and children Brandon & Brooklyn. Joan’s siblings Eunice (John) Halliwell, Marlene Jordan, Don Wood Sr (Madeline), her sister in-law Marie Eschyshyn, brother in-law, George (Louise) Kardash, along with numerous nieces and nephews and her lifelong best friends Wendy Beskal and Sylvia Beaton.

There will be a public celebration** of Joan’s life held on August 6th, 2020 at 7pm at the Prince Albert Exhibition Centre Main Hall. Doors will open at 6:30pm.

Masks are recommended for those in attendance. If you do not have a mask, we will have disposable masks available if you chose to wear one. Along with hand sanitizers etc. It is not mandatory to wear a mask but recommended by Public Health/Covid Regulations.

Even though it is a huge hall we will NOT be filling it to the max allowed under the Covid rules, we just wanting to ensure extra comfort/extra social distance spacing for those wishing to attending, thus rented a large hall for her celebration. There will be a limit of guests allowed to ensure we do not add to the current Covid Crisis numbers. We ask that only a couple people from your immediate family attend to allow room for others.

As well there will not be any food or refreshments provided to keep in accordance with the Covid regulations. If you would like to bring your own bottled water bottle or coffee, please feel free to do so.

If you have any questions or concerns prior to attending the celebration of life, please contact Nikki at 306-960-1552. If you could also text or call to confirm your attendance in advance if possible.

Mom also stated previously she did not want to see people traveling long distances to attend so the service. I am trying to find a way to live stream it. If you are interested in watching live stream please text or call me and I can explain how to watch it remotely.

For anyone looking for additional ways to honor mom’s memory, a suggestion of donating Blood in her name would be a great honor for her as she was a blood donor for a significant part of her adult life!

May today there be peace within you.
May you trust God that you are exactly
where you are meant to be.
I believe that friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet,
when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.

I have gone to be with my groom. Do not cry.
I am celebrating once again.
No pain, no fear,
for I am with my loved ones on the other side.

** Executor’s Note: Due to COVID -19 and knowing the wishes of the deceased, Joan Kardash, the Celebration of Life event scheduled for August 6, 2020 is neither sponsored nor condoned by the Executor, Ken Eschyshyn, for the Estate of Joan Kardash.

• Date : 2020-07-17