In Loving Memory of Mary Chernesky born October 7, 1914 at Wolia District, SK and passed away January 25, 2015 at Battleford, SK. Survived by her loving family: son, Morris (Elsie) Chernesky of Glaslyn, SK 鈥� Grandchildren, Great-Grandchildren & Great-Great-Grandchildren: 聽Terry (Angie): Larissa (Joseph) Santiago 鈥� Peyton, Jessica (Sean) Brewster 鈥� Adia; Natasha (Spencer) Nikkel; Nathan; daughter Pat Chernesky (Fred Olfert) of Nipawin, SK 鈥� Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren: Jeffrey (Jennifer); James (Kristen) 鈥� Jacob & Samantha; Michael (Candace) 鈥� Zoe & Xavier; Kristen (Ryan) Schlechte 鈥� Charlotte & Nicholas; step-sister, Katherine Pawlyshyn, Kamloops, BC; nieces, nephews and their families. Predeceased by her husband, Walter; parents: Michael & Katherine Danyliw; siblings: Annie Korpach, William Danyliw, Nellie Antypowich, Rosie Mazurkewich, John Danyliw, Nick Danyliw, Alex Danyliw, Nettie Nahirney, Peter Mykytuk, Metro (in infancy). Shared memories given by James Olfert. Dear Family and Friends, THANK 聽YOU 聽very much for coming to 聽share in the celebration of a most wonderful 聽life that of Mary Chernesky. It is an honor to be sharing her story and some family memories with you! Mary is the daughter of Katie (Bohay) Danyliw-Mykytuk. She was born on October 7th, 1914, the 6th child in a family of 12. Her parents immigrated 聽to Canada in 1909 from western Ukraine, arriving with three children and other family on s.s. George Washington vessel 聽into 聽the port of New York. They travelled by rail across the country to Saskatchewan to the Wolia District, filed a homestead there and broke the land! Opening of the land was all done by hand! In 1918 an epidemic of Spanish influenza broke out which took the lives of Mary鈥檚 father and one year old brother, leaving her mother with seven small children ranging from ages 2 to 12. Mary was 4 at the time. It wasn鈥檛 long before Mary鈥檚 Grandfather from Ontario came to help with the farm, family and finances. Katie remarried in 1923. Mary worked hard on the farm and at any job that came along, including janitorial work at the school, as money was badly needed. When she started school she knew no English, but quickly learned from others and was able to carry on! She talked about wanting to be a nurse but wasn鈥檛 able to further her education at that time. We know that she would have made a wonderful, caring nurse! But life went on. In 1932 she married Walter Chernesky who had been adopted by the John Mikulak family, they also immigrated to Canada when Walter was 6 years old. Walter and Mary were the first couple to be married in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church which was just being built on their farm, with a Community Hall and School across the road! Wedding celebrations carried on at the Home of the bride. Mary talks about their first home having very little; it was a mud plaster house. They made a table from left over flooring, used apple boxes for chairs and cupboards and borrowed a couch for their first bed till they could purchase one! They were unsuccessful in drilling for water on their land, so hauled it from the creek 2 miles away. This was for household use and for cattle and horses. Later they moved to a different farm and water was only a half mile away! Walter and Mary were very active in the Community, School and Church, donating hundreds of hours of their time here! They did mixed farming, beginning with binder and threshing crew, then graduating to the combine. Mary worked hard at any job on the farm where she was needed, and especially loved feeding everyone! A son, Morris was born in 1932. He married Elsie Peterson from Hatherleigh in 1956, continuing on the farm but also working at Dart鈥檚 Store and eventually his own Hardware business which is now operated by their son Terry; this translates into over 60 years of business in this Community. A daughter Pat was born in 1949; she married Fred Olfert in 1976. She is a Family Physician. After over 40 years of hard work, Walter and Mary retired and built a home in Glaslyn in 1975. They enjoyed their retirement, taking several trips; one was a Bus Tour to Alaska, also trips to visit Brother Alex in St.Catherines, Ontario and to the west coast to visit family as well. Walter passed away in 1990 and Mary was able to live in her own home, with help, till April of 2014! Mary is well known for her generosity, her sharing everything which she could and she DID! She is also known for her good food which she shared amongst all she could! Baking and cooking were an art. She won prizes at 鈥淕laslyn Days鈥� for her Buns and Chiffon Cakes. Mary鈥檚 garden was something else! The ground was barely warm and she would be out there planting flowers and vegetables. Her raspberry patch was so bountiful and many neighbors, friends and family left with ice cream pails of huge beautiful berries! And the crocheting; her beautiful intricate work there leaves a legacy centrepieces, doilies, tablecloths 鈥� small and large 鈥� and she completed 聽creations large enough to be used as bedspreads!! She has shared these with almost everyone in her life! We are so fortunate to have received them. Mary was a woman of strong faith; this faith strengthened and intensified as she grew older, carrying her through difficult times and she was thankful for the support which she received. The family is very grateful for the wonderful care which she was given in those final few weeks. Funeral Service was held on Saturday, January 31, 2015 at 2:30 p.m. at Glaslyn Community Hall, Glaslyn, SK with Pastor Doug Hacking Officiating. Music Ministry was Pianist 鈥� Gwen Hacking; Hymn Selections were 鈥淎 New Name In Glory鈥�, 鈥淕reat Is Thy Faithfulness鈥� & 鈥淎mazing Grace.鈥� Honourary Pallbearers were The many lives she touched. Pallbearers were Terry Chernesky, Nathan Chernesky, Morris Pawlyshyn, Jeffrey Olfert, Michael Olfert & James Olfert. Memorial Donations are requested to Charity of Choice. Interment took place at Wolia Cemetery 鈥� Glaslyn, SK. Arrangements were entrusted to Battlefords Funeral Service.
