Obituary of Bertha Allary
ALLARY - It is with heavy hearts that the family of Bertha Allary wife of the Late Alex Allary of Theodore announce her passing with her family by her side on December 27, 2024, at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre. She was 93 years of age. Bertha was born on July 25, 1931, at the Municipality of Shellmouth, Manitoba to parents, George Alexander Paul and Mary Bernadette Langan. Her siblings were Steve (Dora), Helen (Paul), George (Yvonne), Clifford (Alice), Velma, Theresa (Andrew), Florence, Evelyn (Phillip), Elsie, Dave (Joyce), Rose, and Linda.
Bertha was married on September 12, 1950, to her husband Alex in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. She was married to her husband Alex until his passing on February 22, 2012. During their 61 years of married life, they had 7 children, Fred Allary, George Allary (Marie), Yvette Frank (Ken), Yvonne Rusnak (Brian), Betty Jean Einarson (Todd), Fernny Allary (Cathy) and Evan Allary (Caron).
During her life with Alex they made their homes in Churchbridge, Cresent Lake, Cotham District in Dubuc and spent their final years in Theodore, Sask.
A source of pride for Bertha was her career as a home care aide for Melville and district. She took great pride in the work that she was able to do when she looked after the people that could no longer care for themselves. With great humility she never took for granted the responsibilities that were entrusted to her.
Bertha always looked forward to her family coming home for visits. She enjoyed the many times she had her grandchildren and great-grandchildren come to visit her as well. She prepared delicious meals for everyone and expected everyone to be on time. Another fond memory many have is being cheered on very loudly as Bertha attended their sporting events. Bertha would also fondly share the letter that she received from The Toronto Blue Jays organization in celebration of her 90th birthday.
Bertha had many passions too numerous to mention however we will touch on a few of her favorites. Our Mother had a great passion for sewing and was an accomplished seamstress. Every family member including grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren were blessed with one of her blankets. She never had a number for how many she has sewn but believes it to be over 1000. She also made wedding dresses and baptism dresses. Many people from her community came to her with sewing (mending). She recently finished a baby blanket and has left instructions for her daughter Betty Jean to complete two blanket tops that she was unable to finish. She stated, “It’s easy just follow the line. It’s just like driving!”
Our mother also gardened up until June 2024. Her flower beds were very precious to her and she took great pride in maintaining her flowers and garden and yard. Planting hundreds of hills of potatoes to ensure each of her children could take a row home.
Bertha could be found at 5am, tackle box in hand claiming her spot on the bank of the Whitesand River ready for a day of fishing. Many visitors to the Whitesand Regional Park would often stop by to ask Bertha how fishing was going, and when they asked, she would say, “I did catch some but I’m not going home till I catch my limit”. She enjoyed fishing with her children, grandchildren and many friends and relatives. Bertha looked forward to a phone call asking her to go fishing with them, and on occasion some would be serenaded to a fishing song she made up. She made it more exciting and would say a loonie for the first fish, a loonie for the most, and a loonie for the biggest. Some of the grandchildren’s coins are still in mom’s tackle box. She made a few trips to Lake of the Prairie’s to challenge the fish there as well.
Next to fishing she enjoyed playing marbles and cards with her friends and family. There was never a “Sorry” when she bumped your marble off, just a little smile and a twinkle in her eyes. Bertha would never admit that she was competitive, but we knew she was.
Another favorite thing for her to do was dancing. Any invitation she received she always accepted. She started dancing as a young girl and continued to dance till June 2024 when her health started to fail. Mom would go dancing with dad and their friends every Friday and attended many dances at the Senior Horizons in Yorkton. As her husband played the violin she would dance to the melody of Waltzing Through the Leaves and many others.
Bertha is survived by her children, George Allary (Marie), Yvette Frank (Ken), Yvonne Rusnak (Brian), Betty Jean Einarson (Todd), Fernny Allary (Cathy), and Evan Allary (Caron); as well as 32 grandchildren, 62 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren
Bertha was predeceased by her husband, Alex in 2012; son Fred 2021. She was also predeceased by grandsons Glenn Rusnak, Shayne Allary, granddaughter Tascha Rusnak, great-grandson Mason Shore, her father George Paul in 1983 and her mother, Mary Paul in 1992. She was also predeceased by her brothers Steve, George, Clifford, and Dave, as well as sisters, Velma Evelyn Helen, and Florence.
The Allary family would like to thank Dr. van Heerden and the staff of the Yorkton Regional Health Centre and Regina General Hospital for the wonderful care that Bertha received.
Rest in Peace Mom, you will be missed and will always be loved.
A Prayer Vigil was held on January 2, 2025 with Scott Hoffort serving as the Lay Presider. Special Music was ‘Go Rest High on That Mountain’ by George Allary. Funeral Mass
was celebrated on January 3, 2025 from St. Gerard’s Roman Catholic Church with Rev. Fr. Sathiadas Antony as the Celebrant. Honourary Bearers were all of Bertha’s Grandchildren, Bev and Serenity “Princess” Engle. Interment followed in the Yorkton City Cemetery with Bertha’s children serving as pallbearers. Memorial donations may be made to Whitesand Regional Park Box 406 Theodore, SK S0A 4C0 as gifts of remembrance. Condolences can be sent to the family at baileysfuneralome.com
Arrangements were entrusted to Bailey’s Funeral Home.
