The family of Julia Pacholko, of Prince Albert and formerly of Yorkton Saskatchewan, beloved wife of the late Matthew Pacholko, sadly announce her passing on Friday, July 22, 2022. She was 104 years of age.

Julia Clara Pacholko (née Smereczyńska) was born on October 26, 1917 to Michał Stanisław Smereczyński & Anastazja Smereczyńska (née Osmak) at the family homestead near Willowbrook. Michał & Anastazja immigrated to Saskatchewan from Austrian Galicia in 1903. She was the youngest of six children and the last surviving member of that generation.
Prior to immigration, Michał lived in Radymno, Galicia and served as a sergeant in the Austro-Hungarian Cavalry. A man of many talents, he also managed his family’s farm and made shoes; he inherited his abilities from a long line of highly skilled shoemakers / leather workers on his father’s side – going back at least five generations. Upon immigration, he was offered a job with CN Rail like his brothers Nick and John, but opted instead for a hard life of farming; he wanted the freedom of being his own boss and did not want to work for an employer again. Mom recalled that he was a very skilled violinist and frequently entertained family and neighbours with his music. Her mother Anastazja was born to a farming family in Wietlin, Galicia. A strong, stoic and exceptionally kind woman, she met the trials of farming on the Canadian frontier head-on.
Mom attended Radimno School until the eleventh grade when her skills were further required on the family farm. She was a diligent, bright student and had always desired to be a teacher. She was multilingual, speaking English, Ukrainian, Polish and even some German as a child.  She was a parishioner of Jaroslaw Church near their farm and shared many happy memories such as the blessing of the Paska at Easter there. She also fondly remembered her Grandpa Andrew Spilak arriving with a team of horses wearing bells at the little church, bringing warm muffins her Grandma Parascewia (Pearl) (née Stankiewicz) had baked for the children’s Christmas concert. Mom was extremely proud of her Ukrainian and Polish ancestry and instilled that pride in her family. She said the prayers, sang the songs (many in Ukrainian) and recited the verses she’d learned in school as a young child, until her last day with us! She remembered  her grandmother Ewa taking her skiing in the winter when she was a child, and recalls the days when she lived with them as some of the happiest in her life. Her grandmother joined them on the farm in 1924.

Mom came from a close knit family, something that did not change with time. They were both her relatives and her very best friends. She spoke often of missing her parents and brothers and sisters and recalled the many happy memories they shared. There is no doubt that mom inherited her kind, caring demeanor, her passion for music and singing, and her unwavering determination from her parents; like them, she faced the challenges of life with contentment, strength and resolve. She was a woman with an unshakeable faith in God; always grateful to Him for even the smallest blessings, and accepted the tragedy and sadness that came her way.

Mom was united in marriage with Matthew Clarence Pacholko from the Jedburgh area, on June 13, 1943 at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church. The couple was blessed with four children: Clark (1945), Dean (1948), Janice (1958) and their most precious daughter Judy (1960). She was later thrilled to become the grandmother, great, grandmother and great, great, grandmother of many other children! Matthew was a teacher and the two of them resided in several small Saskatchewan communities during his teaching career. Mom successfully met the challenges of setting up a home, cooking and baking, planting a garden and raising chickens and ducks for her family at various schools, sometimes residing in teacherages. Some of the schools Dad taught at were Aysgarth in Insinger, Horse Lake, Macnutt, Walkerville, Willowbrook, Midale and Kipling to name just a few. Mom played an integral part in Dad’s teaching role, frequently assisting him in writing plays, preparing scripts and songs and making costumes for the students. She was an excellent seamstress and also sewed dresses for women in the communities in which they resided.

Over the course of her life, mom was a parishioner of St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, a member of St. Mary’s Church Choir for many years and enjoyed Christmas  concerts and carolling at parishioner’s homes. She was a lifetime UCWL member participating in meetings, fundraisers etc. She also loved volunteering at St. Mary’s old and new halls for weddings, funerals and special events. Mom played in the Yorkton Senior’s Kitchen Band. She was a member of the Superannuated Teachers of Saskatchewan (spouse), a great supporter of Telemiracle and a past member of the Saskatchewan Association for Community Living and the Yorkton and District Horticultural Society. Mom possessed a keen interest in current affairs and politics and faithfully watched the news and read the newspapers.  She was a wonderful cook and an avid gardener until age 94, nourishing her family for many years with her produce. She grew lovely flowers and fruit trees and generously shared her apples, plums and raspberries with others to enjoy. She was a true homebody, but her son Dean and daughter-in-law Diane convinced her to accompany them on the trip of her lifetime to see her dear niece Eleanor Pearson in California, Disneyland, the Pacific Ocean and several U.S. states in 1981. She had a very exciting time and spoke so fondly of that vacation in the years that followed.

In March 2013, due to changes in her health, mom moved to Prince Albert to reside with her daughter Janice, son-in-law Bob, grandson Clark and granddaughter Lauren and their puppies. She enjoyed several happy years in her new home and her family always felt blessed to have her with them. Mom made her transition to life in Prince Albert with her usual positive attitude and grace. This was greatly assisted by the warm welcome she was extended by the Herb Bassett Adult Day Centre staff Roxanne L., Shirley U., Dawn. T. and all the new friends she met while attending the program. Mom’s regret always, was that due to the pandemic she was unable to visit with her dearest daughter Judy in Yorkton,  with whom she shared a close bond and missed greatly!

As the family reminisces on mom’s long and rich life, one of her many amazing qualities was her sense of humour. Her grandchildren fondly remember joking and laughing with her well into the night. Her witty insights and remarks were always welcomed, especially in difficult situations, and reminded her family that to find humour in any situation was the best antidote to hurt and sorrow. Mom’s moral fortitude, and her sense of right and wrong, informed everything she did, no matter how difficult it was. Faith, honesty, kindness, resolve, acceptance and fairness – the legacy that she has bequeathed to her descendants is built upon this foundation. The way in which she lived her life challenges all of us to be kinder, stronger, and more virtuous; to elevate ourselves and become the people we are meant to be.

Mom was predeceased by her parents, her five siblings Frank, John, Sophie Popovitch, Baby Mary, Mary Lemchuk, her husband Matthew and her son Clark. Left to mourn her passing are her son Dean (Diane) Pacholko of Calgary, daughter Janice (Bob) Northey of Prince Albert, daughter Judy Pacholko of Yorkton and daughter- in -law Linda Pacholko of Kelowna, B.C. as well as all of her grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

The family wishes to extend special thanks to the doctors, nurses  and Shannon and the physiotherapy team at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre for their wonderful care of Mom in 2011-2012, as well as to Yorkton Homecare. Our family is very grateful to Prince Albert Homecare for their ongoing support and expertise, especially nurse Michelle S. Additional sincere gratitude to Dr. S. Ali, Internist, for his years of optimal care of Mom, as well as, the Emergency Department staff,  Dr. B. Sauvé and Dr. J. Kondi and the 5th Floor staff at the Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert for their excellent and incomparable care.

 

Вічная Пам’ять  –   Eternal Memory

• Date : 2022-07-24