Obituary of Helen Howat

It is with profound sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of our mother, Helen Howat on August 24, 2022, at Grace hospice in Regina.Helen was predeceased by her husband Douglas (2014), sons Roderick (1991), and Lyle (1993), grandson Devin (2003), her parents Bill (Wasyl) and Polly (Paranka) Ogenchuk of Hafford, Saskatchewan, three brothers (John, Bill and Michael) and four sisters (Annie, Mary, Pearl and Doris). She is survived by her daughters Judy (John) Paslawski of Regina, and Merrilyn Renkas of Winnipeg; brother-in-law Don (Barrie) Howat of Campbell River, sister-in-law Val Ogenchuk of Rosetown, daughter-in-law Henriette (Doug) Hague of Regina; grandchildren Ben (Jordan) Renkas of Red Deer, Rebecca (Greg) Renkas of Winnipeg, Matthew Paslawski of Saskatoon, Luke Paslawski of Regina, Meagan Paslawski of Regina, Nicole (Mark) Janeczko of Regina; great-grandchildren Liv and Theo Janeczko of Regina, and many nephews and nieces. Helen (Olena) Ogenchuk was born on July 2, 1924 on the family farm near Altacaine, Saskatchewan. At the age of six her parents moved the family closer to Hafford where she completed her Grade 12. In 1943 she entered Saskatoon Teachers College. She completed college in June of 1944 and with a two week practicum at Last Lake School she was ready for her first teaching assignment. For the next six years she taught in one room schools in Spalding, Holbein and finally Canwood. It was in Canwood where she met our dad and they were married in November 1950. Mom and dad lived in Aberdeen for six years, after which they were transferred to Ituna, where they lived their entire married life. Shortly after moving to Ituna, our dear cousin Marian came to live with us as our nanny while mom returned to teaching. She was our second mom, but sadly for us she met and married a handsome young banker and moved away to start a family of her own. Through the years mom was always active in her church and community. She taught school to hundreds of kids over several generations in Ituna and Hubbard, was involved with the St. Stanislaus CWL, the St. Stanislaus Parish Council, the Deanery Pastoral Council of Regina and was one of the first lay ministers, graduating in 1983. Her extensive community involvement included the Ituna Figure Skating Club, the Arena Ladies Association, the Recreation Board , Ituna and District Healthcare Association, Ituna Ability Centre, the Lions Band. She was an assessor-coordinator for Touchwood Hills Homecare #40 and she taught the Kelsey Home Care Service Program. She raised many thousands of dollars for the Kidney Foundation and helped numerous Ituna citizens with their tax returns. Springtime meant planting a massive garden and in the fall canning pickles, jams, relish and fruit. Holidays saw pies, cookies, tarts and her fabulous Christmas fruit cakes, most of which were safely stored downstairs in the freezer. We basically grew up on stolen frozen “treats”. Mom was the hardest working woman we knew. She loved to travel, and went across Canada and throughout the Eastern states. She travelled overseas to seven countries, including Ukraine where she visited her parents village, and to Holland with our dad where he was a part of their liberation in WWII. She was always ready to babysit for us and we never left home without a care package. She was either jumping on a bus to Winnipeg, or dad was driving her to Regina. She helped us through pharmacy and nursing school, because we were “her girls”. She loved us dearly and we loved her. From January 2016 until her passing, she resided at Qu‘Appelle House Special Care Home in Regina. She loved her new home and all of the nursing staff. They affectionately called her “teacher”. She will be missed by them all. Mom always said “I don’t want a funeral, I want a celebration of life! I’ve lived a long and good life with good times and bad times, I don’t want sad, I want happy” so happy it is! Happy that she is reunited not only with her God, but our dad and her boys too. They are finally all together. Rest in peace mom, your job here is done, you raised us well and we will be OK. Service Details. Prayers Friday, September 2nd, 2022 | 7:30pm When: Friday, September 2nd, 2022 7:30pm Location: St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church Address: 216 5th Ave. SE ITUNA, SK S0A 1N0 Funeral Mass Saturday, September 3rd, 2022 | 11:00am When: Saturday, September 3rd, 2022 11:00am Location: St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church Address: 216 5th Ave. SE ITUNA, SK S0A 1N0 Interment Location: Ituna R.C. Cemetery Address: 5th Ave. SE ITUNA, SK S0A 2N0 Online Memory & Photo Sharing Event Ongoing Online Event About this event In Loving Memory Of Helen Howat July 2, 1924 - August 24, 2022 Look inside to read what others have shared Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in this book. View Tribute Book