Obituary of Ethel Stratychuk

STRATYCHUK - Ethel Stratychuk, longtime Yorkton resident, passed away on Sunday, March 18, 2007 at the Regina General Hospital. She was 89 years of age. Ethel Sarah Stratychuk was born on December 29, 1917 in the Dunleath district of Saskatchewan; a daughter of Robert and Sarah (nee Darwin) Orr. Ethel was raised on the farm and attended the Dunleath School from grades one through ten. On October 12, 1937 she was united in marriage to Alex Stratychuk. The couple resided in Yorkton where Alex worked and Ethel took time to raise her family. In 1965 she began employment with the Yorkton CO-OP, and following 18 years of dedicated service, retired in 1983 as the manager of the cafeteria. Never one to be idle, Ethel was very involved with the Royal Canadian Legion Ladies Auxiliary, where she quickly became affectionately known as 'The Pie Lady'. She had a special way in the kitchen, having won many ribbons over the years at the Yorkton Exhibition for her baking of pies and butter tarts, and also for her vegetables and flowers, which she proudly grew every year as well as holding a membership in the Horticulture Society. In her spare moments, Ethel loved to play cards and was a stickler for the rules. For much of this past year, Ethel's health had been in decline. Predeceased by her husband Alex in December of 1977, her parents, sisters: Gertrude Wilson, and Agnes Stebbings; and a brother, Raymond Orr. She leaves to cherish her memory: sons, Robert (Evelyn) of Vernon, and Garry (Carole) of Costa Rica; grandchildren: Colin (Cindy) Stratychuk, Grant Stratychuk (Trudy Antypovich), Candace Stratychuk (Pete Walkley), Shannon (Wade) Beisiegel; great grandchildren, Ryan and Rachel Stratychuk. Also a sister-in-law, Bella Orr of Yorkton, niece Sara-mae (Rick) Dipple of Red Deer, as well as nieces and nephews in the United Kingdom and Canada, and special friends, Elaine (Brian) Kranson of Edmonton. The funeral service was held on Monday, March 26, 2007 from Westview United Church with Faye Greer officiating. The organist, Marilyn Newell, led members of the church choir and the congregation in the singing of the hymns The Old Rugged Cross and Amazing Grace. Soloist, Norm Graff sang In the Garden. The interment followed in the Garden of St. Matthew at the Yorkton Memorial Gardens with Richard Meszaros, Andy Juba, Peter Wyatt, Brian Kranson, Grant Stratychuk and Bill Spokowski serving as the casketbearers. Arrangements were in care of Bailey's Funeral Home. Service Information Monday, March 26th, 2007 2:00pm, Westview United Church Interment Details Yorkton Memorial Gardens