ANNE MARIE HARDY (KRISTALOVICH)

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ANNE MARIE HARDY (nee KRISTALOVICH) Peacefully and in the Grace of God at the Holy Family Home on August 10, 2007. It is with sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Mother, Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother, Anne Hardy, at the age of 91. Cherishing her memory are her sons, Colin (Brenda) and Larry, her grandchildren, Lara and Michael, and her cherished great-grandson, Owen, along with many nephews and nieces. Anne was predeceased by her husband William (Bill) in 1965. She was the last surviving child of her late parents, Stephen and Marie Kristalovich, and has joined her brothers, Bill (Jessie), Harry (Mary), Peter, Paul, Naster (Mary), and Reverend Mitrat John Kristalovich, and her sister Marie Rystephaniuk (Wes) in eternal rest and peace. Mom was born in Sandy Lake, Manitoba January 24, 1916, the ninth of ten children of a deeply religious, pioneering farming family whose faith and values of charity, honesty, and sacrifice guided her throughout her life. Mom grew up in Sandy Lake and was actively involved in her church, her church choir, Ukrainian school, dancing and drama. With the onset of the Second World War, mom moved to Fort William (Thunder Bay) and was employed throughout the war years in an airplane and munitions assembly plant. After the war she met and married an R.C.A.F. flying officer (Bill Hardy) and subsequently moved to Vancouver where they had two sons, Colin and Larry. Mom was devoted to her family and provided a stable and loving home throughout the years of nomadic military postings. The family eventually settled in Winnipeg shortly before dad's passing. Mom re-entered the work force, employed at the Hudson's Bay Company, where she acquired a reputation as a knowledgeable, caring, person-oriented customer service employee throughout her 23 years with the company. Her professional yet unassuming demeanour and elegant and artistic sense of style and taste in clothing selection and in arranging floor displays distinguished her as a classy lady regular customers appreciated and always sought out for assistance. Throughout her life mom dedicated herself to family. Family gatherings and Seasonal celebrations centred around her dining room table. Mom loved to cook and the savoury ethnic and traditional dishes she prepared were a hallmark of the family's Christmas, Easter, or Thanksgiving festivities. Her talents in the kitchen were well known throughout the community and Mom's pastries never made it to the bake sale table at her church. They were always pre-ordered by those who had previously savoured her one of a kind pies or cakes. Mom's religious devotion never wavered throughout her life and she was an active and spearheading member in both the Roman Catholic and Ukrainian Catholic Churches she attended during her life. She was an active member and President in the Catholic Women's Leagues (C.W.L. and U.C.W.L.) and the Holy Family Home Ladies Auxiliary, sang in the church choir, and was a dedicated member of church prayer groups. Mom's love of flowers and her expertise in floral arrangements, again, tasteful and elegant, were especially appreciated. Easter and Christmas services were hallmarked by her creative floral displays and her talents were in high demand for weddings, showers, and church social events. Mom was, indeed, a special lady. She faced and endured many life hardships privately, with an inner strength and resolve that we can only now really appreciate. Her devotion to family and church will always be remembered, and we will always remember and cherish her not only as a mom, but as a real classy lady. God Bless, Mom. Keep watching out for us... . The family wishes to express sincere thanks to the dedicated caring staff at the Holy Family Home especially the direct care staff on 4A (St. Josephs) and especially to the Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate whose unwavering and tireless support to mom during her stay at Holy Family truly fulfilled the motto to Serve is to Love . Prayers will be sung (Ukrainian) 7:00 p.m., Friday, August 17 at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main St. with His Grace Archbishop Michael Bzdel, C.Ss.R. and Reverend Father Bohdan Lukie, C.Ss.R. officiating. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 a.m., Saturday August 18 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church, 4588 Roblin Blvd. with Reverend Father Barry Schoonbaert officiating. A private family interment will follow in Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations in Anne Hardy's memory may be made to the Holy Family Home. VICHNAYA PAM'YAT CROPO FUNERAL CHAPEL 586-8044

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 14, 2007