Vonda Grywacheski (nee Hrabarchuk)
1925-2014
Vonda Grywacheski passed away on Sunday, December 7, 2014 in Ladysmith, BC. She was born in Arran, Saskatchewan on May 28, 1925, the daughter of John and Michalena Hrabarchuk. She was the youngest of thirteen children.
Vonda married Marian Grywacheski and his four little children on June 13, 1943. Two more girls were born into the family. Together Marian and Vonda raised their children and owned and operated the Villa Hotel in Norquay, Saskatchewan. They retired in 1975 and moved to Yorkton, Saskatchewan. Vonda continued to work part-time at the Yorkton Hotel and later at the Royal Canadian Legion until Marian passed away in 1981.
Vonda loved to work - in her garden, her home and her community. She was a great cook and hostess to relatives and friends. Her home was immaculate and her shelves and freezer stocked with preserves and produce from her garden. She was an active member of the Catholic Women’s League (C.W.L.), so if she wasn’t working at home, she was volunteering at St. Gerard’s Church, making perogies and cabbage rolls or visiting sick parishioners at the hospital or nursing home.
She liked to be busy - but it was not all work and no play. Vonda loved to sing, dance and to curl - and what a curler she was! Her many trophies attest to her skill at the sport.
The past seven years have been a trying time for her. With her failing health, she had to leave behind the home, friends and community she loved so much, and moved to Ladysmith, BC. Though she was not able to enjoy the activities she once did, she made numerous friends in the Home Care and later the Arbour Cottage Staff who all enjoyed her quick wit and sense of humour.
Vonda will be remembered by all who knew her, for her strength, her courage and her faith . . . and who could forget that thousand watt smile.
Vonda was predeceased by her parents; her husband, Marian; her daughters, Genevive and Geraldine; her son, Henry and sons-in-law, Walter and Adolph; eleven brothers and sisters and a close friend, Cyril.
She is survived by her daughters, Leocadia Adams, Cornelia (Lawrence) Schiewe and Sheral (Tom) McCann; sons-in-law, August Mydynski and Lawrence Yaremko and one sister, Jean Zaharychuk. She also leaves to mourn her passing her grandchildren, Linda (Martin) Connor, Darrell (Cindy) Adams, Kirk Yaremko, Krystal (Jody) Hammersmith, Waltra (Pat) Lewis, Gary (Wendy) Schiewe, Sandra (Shawn) Herrmann, Rochell (Orest) Jakymyc, Corene Mydynski (Ken Duprey), Rae Lene Mydynski, Keith Mydynski, Scott Grywacheski and Mark Grywacheski as well as 18 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandson and many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank Dr. Manny Fritsch, the staff at the Family Practice Clinic, and Home Care staff for the wonderful care provided to Mom over the years. Our heartfelt thanks to Margie and her angels Colleen and Melissa for the exceptional nursing care and love Mom received at Arbour Cottage. Thank you for truly making it her home. A special thank you to Julie Neal for being such a good friend.
A Vigil Prayer Service was held on Friday December 12, 2014 and Funeral Mass held on Saturday December 13, 2014 at St. Gerard’s Roman Catholic Church in Yorkton, Sask. Interment followed at the Canora Town Cemetery, Canora Sask.
Friends so wishing may make donations in Vonda’s name to the Heart & Stroke Foundation or to the charity of one’s choice as tokens of remembrance.