Obituary of Olga Bohach

BOHACH - Olga Bohach died peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, April 15 just before midnight. Her husband of 66 years, Pete (Peter) Bohach, was at her side, along with her son, Vern Bohach, and his 2 daughters, J. Though she was speaking very little, her adamant spirit and strong will was with her the whole way as she kept sternly telling us all to go bed. Now. Olga was born on December 13, 1926 in the Ituna District to John and Sophie (Krysowaty) Woytas. She was the fifth of eight children, grew up on the family farm and attended Beaverside School. She and her siblings walked three miles one way to the school, and in the winter travelled with horse and cutter. After marrying Pete on June 20, 1948 they moved to Saskatoon for a brief time before coming back to the farm that Pete had purchased prior to their wedding. Pete and Olga enjoyed going to dances, playing cards, having company, and working the land. She lived out her years there - raised her children, cared for her grandchildren, watched over her great grandchildren, and worked tirelessly to keep up that homestead. Olga fought a good fight, being faced with arthritis taking over her body. This left her in a wheelchair for approximately 25 years. Her tenacity and dedication to her family and home never faltered. Her sense of justice was omnipotent, she was never one to back down and she stood her ground for what she felt was right. She would not tolerate moral relativism and was not shy about it. Her values were cemented to her core, and radiated through her heart. As Carla noted, she had her hand in everything. Olga liked to stay busy. Her creativity and imaginative nature was prevalent as she grew up. She transmitted her enthusiasm for beauty in multiple capacities. She had impeccable style, and a flare for good taste. She was a talented seamstress, skilled and inventive; often designing her own patterns from scratch from a young age. Her creations included subtle touches only the keen eye could appreciate. Her generosity for sharing her passion for sewing is evident in many of her extended families heirlooms; christening gowns, dresses, and children's clothing. For me , her decision to categorize and keep everything in order has been a source of excitement connected to the many trips I made to the farm over the years. I loved trying on grandma's vintage clothing for her, and having my own personal closet filled with dressy items that she made or owned. She really did save everything, as we would often find the offcut material from the clothing items we were discovering. The farm has been a treasure chest for Cory, Carla and I, as we not only are constantly finding new things we have never seen before, but also are surrounded by a space that has barely changed since we were young. Her preservations trickle through every corner of the house, and the stability of this is very nurturing. Olga also had a love for gardening, and could make anything she touched grow. She kept an enormous garden for many years, continued planting flowers and guided Pete to care for the flowers when her illness no longer permitted her to do it herself. She marveled at nature, and enjoyed it in all of its beauty. As her sister Helen observed, no other flower garden was as beautiful as hers. Her artistic talents extended to painting and drawing as well. She painted a beautiful mural of Little Red Riding Hood on the wall leading upstairs, that her niece Violet remembered always being in awe of it as a child on her visits to the farm. When an extension to the house was added, she left a 12 x 19 rectangular hole in the wall so that the original logs would show through. She placed a frame around that hole, and using the logs as a make shift canvas, she created a framed 3 dimensional nature scene; that included deer figures and a painted blue sky. For their grandchildren, Pete built a play bed, with a canopy and a cubby space for the toys, that Olga outfitted with pink bedding and an imaginative naturescape painting. From a distance, as I watched my gregarious grandmother rapidly slowing down over the last few years, I was reminded of the pantry, of the basement cellar, and of all the fragile mason jars. The succession of nourishing preserves layered from ceiling to floor in the translucent jars glistening in the low, dark light reflects the presence of her once passionate energies. Her cooking and food preparations were also a huge part of her life. No one ever left her home unfed. Even with unexpected company, she was always ready to put a meal together. When Olga was 20 years old, her mother passed away and she automatically assumed the role of caregiver. She had a great love for children, she enjoyed playing and teaching them games, as well as allowing them to explore on their own. She loved having her nieces and nephews over. In her later years, she adored having her grandchildren and great grandchildren visit the farm. They were her greatest joy and made her the happiest. Her family was everything to her. Olga leaves behind her husband, Pete, who was her greatest support and caregiver once she was not able to care for herself. She leaves behind her children - Veronica (Clarence) Andrews and Vern Bohach (Adrienne Krahenbil); her grandchildren - Cory Watson, Carla Bohach; her great grandchildren - Kaelene, Christian and Elijhia Banias - Watson; and her sister Helen (Neville) Smith. She also leaves behind a gaggle of nieces, nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews, as well as in-laws, who will all miss her Sunday phone calls and stories. We will carry her memory knowing that it was we she was the most proud of and that we were her greatest source of joy. She was predeceased by her mother and father, Sophie and John Wojtas; and siblings, Bernard Frank (Berny), Pauline, Stella, Walter, Edward and Carl. We take comfort in knowing how much she enjoyed the final months of her life spent at the Ituna Pioneer Lodge. Never one to enjoy doctors, hospitals or medication, a natural transition was gently provided for her move off the farm. She very much enjoyed her time there, and though it was short, it was very much appreciated. She was at peace and in great spirits in her final days. Thank you Grandma, for teaching us strength, integrity and devotion. You infused our lives with spirituality and love in your feisty firm way. Now, as a young woman, I sit here and go back to my childlike, nostalgic perspective of a world that you created for me. Through this experience of reflecting on your life, I can now appreciate that our differences are not so great. All of my qualities are an imprint of your gifts and character. I am certain that this sentiment is shared by all of your loved ones. Your presence and influence in all of our lives will live on. Prayer services were held on Monday evening, April 21st 2014 from Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church in Ituna. The Requiem Divine Liturgy was celebrated on Tuesday, April 22nd 2014 from Sacred Heart Church with Very Rev. Boris Kyba C.Ss.R. as Celebrant. The crossbearer was Christian Watson, the epistle-reader was Ron Kaczmar. Cantors, Heidi Spilchuk, Ladmer Moskal & Wayne Boczulak led in the singing of the responses. The interment took place in Sts. Peter & Paul Parish Cemetery at Jasmin with Jack Shymko, Sylvester Woytas, Roman Yachiw, Johnny Bohach, Ron Kaczmar and John Smith serving as the casketbearers. The memorial luncheon followed at Sacred Heart Parish Hall, where Ron Kaczmar gave a tribute and thanks on behalf of the family. Arrangements were entrusted to Bailey's Funeral Home. Service Information Monday, April 21st, 2014 7:00pm, Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church Tuesday, April 22nd, 2014 10:00am, Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church Interment Details