Karen Barbara Ochitwa passed away at the Canora Hospital on October 3, 2013, at the age of 50 years. Karen was born on July 18, 1963, to John and Olga (Rudnisky) Drozd of Canora, SK. She grew up on a farm in the Gorlitz area and attended school in Canora. During her school years she was active in air cadets and 4H. Karen graduated in 1981, and after graduation she took an accounting and secretarial course in Yorkton. At the age of 18 she met Bill Ochitwa at a party at the dam, and as she was picking Bill up off the ground, their eyes met and that was it. After dating for a year they were engaged and married on January 15, 1983 in Canora at a huge Ukrainian wedding. Shortly after they were married, Karen's daughter Aimee was born on May 3, 1983. Karen and Bill then moved to the farm near Tiny and started building a life together. During this time, Karen was employed at the Gateway Lodge in Canora as a secretary and book keeper. In 1992, Karen and Bill's son Shelby was born on June 26. Karen then worked as an Administrative Assistant in the Assiniboine Valley administrative office. Looking at a career change, she started work on her Bachelor of Social Work degree from the University of Regina, while still continuing to work outside the home, managing the duties and responsibilities of being a great wife and mom and working with her husband on the farm. A proud moment of Karen's schooling was when she convocated with her degree in May 2005 at the same ceremony as her daughter Aimee. Karen worked in a variety of capacities in the social work field at Strengthening Our Circle, Mental Health, Orcadia Youth Residence, Homecare, and the Haemodialysis and Chemotherapy unit in Yorkton. She was a part of the Critical Stress Management Team, which provided services during times of crisis. Karen also served as a marriage commissioner for the province of Saskatchewan, marrying dozens of couples. During this time, Karen and Bill started traveling and enjoying life, starting with a trip to Las Vegas, and continuing on to Mexico twice. Karen also had the opportunity through work to travel to Toronto and Niagara Falls. Karen and Bill traveled to Jamaica for their 25th wedding anniversary with David and Dianne Kresak and Dale and Arlene Lozinski for a fun filled trip of sitting on the beach and Karen overcoming her fear of heights to go zip lining in the jungle. In 2010, Karen and Bill took the trip of a lifetime for three weeks to Spain, Portugal and Morocco with Brent and Gail Deighton. They toured all of Spain by car and went into the cities to experience the culture of the locals. Karen also traveled to Kentucky with her family in 2012 to attend a wedding social for her daughter's wedding. A favourite summer activity of Karen's was going camping with family and friends. Part of the enjoyment of camping was riding in Dale's boat even if she wasn't fishing, although she screamed every time a fish was brought into the boat. Karen was known for her gourmet camping meals, and enjoyed hosting company. In summer Karen also enjoyed golfing, gardening and spending time tending to her always beautiful flower beds. Karen enjoyed making her own wine, and her father John really admired her brewing skills. During seeding and harvest, Karen was active on the farm, supporting her husband. She enjoyed combining and proving Bill wrong about her ability to drive the tandem truck. Karen was proud that she taught her son in law Ben how to drive the combine. In winter Karen enjoyed snowmobiling, ice fishing, curling and spending time with family and friends. In the winter of 2010, Karen was diagnosed with cancer. Two of Karen's wishes were that she was able to see her daughter get married, and her son graduate from college, and both of these wishes were fulfilled. Aimee married Benjamin Sipple in Montana in 2011. Karen, Bill and Shelby traveled to the wedding, and Karen worked tirelessly in the planning of their wedding reception in Yorkton. Karen also attended Shelby's graduation ceremony at Lethbridge College in the spring of 2013, and helped Shelby move to Saskatoon this fall to continue his studies. Despite her illness, Karen continued to live life to the fullest. A big part of her wanting to lead a normal life included time spent at the curling rink and with the members of the Canora Curling club, where she also served as president. Although she didn't always curl, Karen participated in the planning of bonspiels and fun nights, as well as always working the bar with a big smile on her face. Karen will be dearly and sadly missed by all those who knew and loved her and shared in her life. Karen was predeceased by her father John Drozd and her niece Danni McGirr. She is survived by her loving husband Bill, her children Aimee (Ben) Sipple and Shelby Ochitwa, her mother Olga Drozd, her mother and father in law Katie and Ben Ochitwa, her brother Darrell (Heather) Drozd, her sister Tamara (Scott) McGirr, her brother in law Merv (Karen) Ochitwa, her sisters in law Dianne (David) Kresak and Janet (Trevor) Sullivan, her nephews Darren (Sarah) Kresak, Brett Drozd, Logan and Tyler Ochitwa and her nieces Jenelle Kresak, Karli Ochitwa, Shanna Drozd, Jill and Chantel Sullivan, and Morgan and Erin McGirr. The Prayer Service was held on Tuesday, October 8, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. and the Funeral Service was held on Wednesday, October 9, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. both from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity with Very Rev. Fr. Mel Slashinsky officiating. Interment followed in the Canora Cemetery. Those wishing to make expressions of sympathy may make donations to the Canora Hospital Palliative Care as tokens of remembrance in memory of Karen. Those unable to attend are invited to sign an on-line guest book at www.lesonsfuneralhome.ca. Arrangements have been entrusted to LESON'S FUNERAL HOME, Canora, SK (306-563-5671).
