MARY SITAR -

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

MARY SITAR 1910 - 2006 It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Mary Sitar, on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 at the Concordia Hospital in Winnipeg at the age of 96 years. Mother is survived by her loving daughters, Julie Sitar and Phyllis Kastalanych and husband Victor; grandchildren, Randy Kastalanych of Dallas, TX, and Lynn (Shawn) Cabak and great-granddaughters Chanel and Ranae Cabak all of Portage La Prairie, MB; sisters Michalina Sidlak of Baltimore, MD and Terenia Ginda of The Ukraine; sister-in-law Stella Zajanczkowski (Sitar) of Winnipeg, Mary Wojciechowicz (Sitar) of Thunder Bay, ON, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her very dear and special friends Steve and Cathy Maydaniuk and their families and by her very special, young friend, Anita Penner. Mary was predeceased by her husband Joseph Martin Sitar in 1956, son Jack in 1950, infant daughter Lillian in 1945 and by her parents Julie and Michael Sawchuk; brothers Walter, Yaroslav and Osyp; sisters Genia and Olha; sisters-in-law Ann Tretiak and husband Nicholas and Molly Jacobson and husband Jack; brothers-in-law John and Stanley Sitar and Alex Sidlak; Aunties Theresa Andrusiak and Domka Diduck; nephew Michael Tretiak and wife Mary and niece Bernice Smith (Jacobson), as well as numerous other cousins, nieces and nephews. Our mother was born on February 19, 1910 in the Village of Bazar in Western Ukraine and immigrated to Canada in 1929 under the sponsorship of her two aunties, Theresa and Domka. In June 1935, Mary married Joseph Martin Sitar and settled on the family farm at Stoney Hill (Elma, MB), which was homesteaded by her father-in-law Martin Sitar in 1901. Together, Mom and Dad worked very hard and enjoyed entertaining family and friends. After Joseph's passing in 1956, Mary continued to reside at Stoney Hill until 1960, at which time she moved to Winnipeg with her two daughters. She was employed at Misericordia Hospital in the Housekeeping Department until her retirement in 1975. Together with her family, she continued farming and gardening on weekends. In 1992, Mary moved back to the farm with her daughter, Julie, and continued to enjoy her life in the country. On July 26, 2005, Mary and her family were honoured by Manitoba Agriculture, the Manitoba Historical Society and the R.M. of Whitemouth with a Century Plaque, recognizing that the farm had remained under the same family name for 100 years. Mom's happiest times were when she was preparing traditional family dinners and visiting with family, friends and neighbours. She loved spending time outdoors berry picking, mushroom picking and tending to her vegetable and flower gardens. Her ultimate joy was spending time with her grandchildren. It brought Mom extreme joy when her great-grandchildren were born, and more so, when she was able to attend their baptisms. Mary's family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to the homecare workers who looked after Mom with such compassion, and also to the Concordia Hospital ER, 3W ward, doctors, nurses and staff. The family also extends their gratitude to Drs. Spence and Nell, staff and ambulance attendants from the Whitemouth Health Care Centre. Thank you also to the neighbouring Mennonite Choir for contributing to our celebration. Prayers will be said 7:00 p.m. Friday, March 17 at Green Acres Funeral Home, Hwy. No. 1 E. at Navin Road with Deacon Victor Humniski officiating. Funeral service will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 18, also at Green Acres Funeral Home with the Rev. Fr. Michael Krochak officiating. Interment will follow in Stoney Hill Cemetery at Elma, MB. The pallbearers will be Messrs. Randy Kastalanych, Shawn Cabak, Ron and Bill Tretiak, Rick Smith and Allan Maydaniuk. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary's memory may be made to the Concordia Foundation, in care of the Emergency Room Expansion, 1095 Concordia Avenue, Winnipeg, R2K 3S8. GREEN ACRES Funeral Home and Cemetery Hwy. #1 E. at Navin, (204) 222-3241

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 17, 2006