ELIZABETH (ELSIE) MASTALER (BATENCHUK)

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ELIZABETH (ELSIE) MASTALER (nee BATENCHUK) Peacefully, on Friday, May 7, 2010, in her sleep at home, Elsie went to be with our Lord at the age of 86. Elsie was able to enjoy her final years at home, now survived by her three children Sharon (Freeman) and Greg both of Beausejour, and Tracy of Thunder Bay. Elsie has two grandchildren from son Greg and Lori - Zain Mastaler in Taiwan, and Tammy (Clayton) MacLennan of Beausejour; two great-grandchildren Tristan and Mya; three grandchildren from daughter Tracy and Jay Kohne - Jolene, Jackson and Emily. She was predeceased by her husband Fred in 1983, daughter-in-law Lori in 2007 and by her siblings Margaret, Olga and Kenneth. Born July 30, 1923 in Tyndall, Manitoba, Elsie's 86 years were spent in service to her family, friends, church and the many people who passed through her life. She loved cooking and baking, her LP music records, sunshine and feeding the birds. She also loved being the hostess and always had enough for one more'. This reflects her upbringing on the Batenchuk farm in Tyndall with her six siblings Margaret (Anderson), Olga (Bodnarchuk), Gertie (Sokol), Kenneth, Annette a.k.a. Chickie (Hayes), and Ted a.k.a. Togie . In her late teens, Elsie worked as a farm hand for Fred Mastaler whom she would marry in 1942. They farmed for years before moving into Beausejour in the mid 1950s when Elsie procured employment at Macleods where she would spend the next 35 plus years and become known and loved by so many. She was also known for her beautiful singing that would turn heads in the Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church. The consummate hospitable Ukrainian woman, she was always feeding people, including her children's and grandchildren's friends. Her comfy kitchen was known as Elsie's Restaurant' by her drop-in guests and was especially prized for her stove top percolated coffee. She had an artistic flare, decorating her welcoming home for special holidays, and paid attention to detail from wrapping gifts to preparing the traditional Ukrainian Easter Basket for blessing. Summer vacations were always marked by road trips to visit relatives and landmarks with mom making tasty sandwiches and road snacks from a cooler in the back seat. Elsie and Fred especially enjoyed their winter vacations in Florida at Treasure Island, where they made close friends and lasting memories. Prayers will be sung on Tuesday evening, May 11, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. in the Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church, 823 Park Avenue East, Beausejour, Manitoba. Divine Liturgy will be Celebrated on Wednesday morning, May 12 at 10:30 a.m., also in the Church with Rt. Rev. Msgr. Mitrat Michael J. Buyachok, presiding. Interment will follow in the Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Parish Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Elsie's nephews Michael and Phillip Bodnarchuk, Darryl and Terry Hayes, Tim and Reg Batenchuk. We would like to send special thanks to mom's neighbour Brian Keefe and family for their generous caretaking over the years. Thanks to the Beausejour Hospital staff and homecare workers for their gentle care in the recent past. Will The Circle Be Unbroken

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 10, 2010