With sadness as well as pride and admiration for how she lived her life, we, the surviving children of Vernie, announce the passing of our mother and friend on Saturday, July 29, nine weeks before her 99th birthday. Mom suffered from vascular dementia for the last several years. She was the second oldest of five surviving children born to Helena and Michael Melchkart in Humboldt Saskatchewan on October 3, 1924. Mom weighed only 4 pounds at birth but she was a feisty, fun loving woman with a great sense of humour who always had her door open. If you needed a shoulder to cry on or just an understanding ear to listen, she always had a cup of coffee and her homemade buns to go with her helpful and sound advice.

Mom gave birth to five children in seven and a half years and her children always came first. Besides her children, another great accomplishment for mom was being the shop steward for the union at the dry cleaners that she worked at in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan at the age of 17.

Mom fell in love and married Glen, the father of her five children, in 1950. His work as an engineer in the Canadian Armed Forces transferred them to CFB Chilliwack and they chose to live in Cultus Lake where you would often find mom hostess to the Catholic Mass held at their house on Sunday.

As time went on, mom became a single mother, raising her five children on her own. Mom took various odd jobs including bean and berry picking, usually with one or two of us younger ones in tow. Mom was able to budget her money well enough to purchase her own home for her and her children in 1966, where she resided for 53 years before entering the Bradley Centre. She was one of the strongest women we’ve ever known.

She is predeceased by her parents, Mike and Helena Melchkart, the father of her children, Glen, her son Mel, her sister Trudy and brothers Mike, Eugene and Cletus, as well as grandson Scott. She is survived by her daughters, Maureen Nelson, Judy Tolmie, Nona (Wayne) Hunt, and Stacie (Bob) Neufeld. Her brother Ralph Melchkart and sister Helen (Ed) Boyle, as well as many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff at Bradley Centre for their ongoing commitment to mom’s care.

At mom’s request, she will be interred in Prince Albert Saskatchewan. A Graveside Service will be held Friday August 11, 2023 at Prince Albert Memorial Gardens, RR 2 Stn Mpp Site 4 Comp. 94, Prince Albert, SK, at 11:00 am.  For those who were unable to attend the service, a link to the recording is provided here https://youtu.be/Kbh4pXGsGVI

Family and friends wishing to send online condolences are welcome to visit www.beaulacfuneralhome.com.  Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Beau “Lac” Funeral Home and Crematorium, Lorne Adams, Funeral Director, Prince Albert, SK 306-763-3322

• Date : 2023-07-29
• Location : Prince Albert, SK