Frances Korolek (nee Shewchuk) of Theodore, SK, passed away peacefully on October 14, 2014 at the Malinowski House (Yorkton Village, Yorkton & District Nursing Home). She was born on July 22, 1925, the eighth child of Eli and Waselka (nee Kostachuk) Shewchuk of West Bend, SK. Frances grew up during the depression years when life was hard. She attended Aysgarth School, completing Grade Eight. Some of her memories of her school years were: walking three miles to school; going to school during a thunderstorm and having to cross a fence before lightning struck again; and her family being called "Galicians" because they were Ukrainian. Frances met John Korolek while visiting her sister, Mary. Mary's husband, John Malinowski and John Korolek were school friends. After eight months of courtship, they got married on July 17, 1943 at the farm of Steve and Patty Korolek. Frances and John then moved to a farm five miles northeast of Theodore. Their first house was a one room building made of logs, 14 feet by 14 feet. When the children started coming, they built a second house where they raised their five children. In 1982, John and Frances moved into Theodore. John passed away on October 13, 1996 and Frances continued to live there until she moved into Malinowski House in February of 2013. Frances grew a weedless but bountiful garden. She baked bread, cooked six meals a day and milked cows, all on the same day as a gang of six to eight men were threshing grain at her place. Company at her farm, at all hours of the day or night, was a familiar sight and she always put on the coffee pot with a tasty meal. Many hours of playing cards, "King Pedro", with the neighbours were enjoyed by all. Throughout her life, Frances shared her great love for her children and grandchildren but when the great-grandchildren started arriving, her comment was "I'M OLD". She kept saying this until two days before her passing. Frances' life slid quickly downhill after she broke her hip in August of 2014. She will be remembered for her love for her family, her precise, "everything in order ways" and how certain personal items were very important to her. Frances was predeceased by her husband, John (1996); two children, one in infancy (1957) and a daughter, Caroline (1953); mother, Waselka (1949); father, Eli (1972); sisters, Jennie (1929), Doris (1989), Anne (1988), Mary (1998), Rose (2012) and Jean (2012); brothers, John (2001), Bill (2000) and Matt (2000). Frances is survived by her children, Chris (Robina), Mervin (Caroline), Rodney (Cathy) and Cherise (Larry) Husulak and one sister, Lena Antonishyn; 10 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Prayers were held on Sunday, October 19, 2014 and the Funeral Service was held on Monday, October 20, 2014. Both services were held from the Chapel of Christie's Funeral Home in Yorkton, SK with the Very Reverend Father Mel Slashinsky officiating. The Cantor, Gerald Yaholnitsky was assisted by members of the church choir. The Cross Bearer was Rochelle Berrns. Following a luncheon in the Gunn Reception Room at Christie's Funeral Home, the Interment Service took place in St. John's Ukrainian Orthodox Riverside Parish Cemetery with Tyler Husulak, Derek Berrns, Kelsey Valuck, Shaylee Valuck, Robert Cross and Deron Malinowsky serving as the casket bearers. Friends so wishing may make donations in Frances's name to St. John's Ukrainian Orthodox Riverside Parish Cemetery as tokens of remembrance. Friends so wishing may forward their condolences to the family by visiting www.christiesfuneralhome.com. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Christie's Funeral Home & Crematorium, Yorkton, Saskatchewan.
