Passed away peacefully, after a long and healthy life, surrounded by loving family members, on December 2nd, 2005 at Weatherby Extended Care, Peace Arch Hospital, White Rock, BC.
Mary was born in the RM of Invermay, Saskatchewan, on June 19th, 1910, to pioneer parents, Nicholas and Pauline Swiderski, and a family of seven brothers and sisters.
There, Mary attended Dobrowody School. She met her loving soulmate Marian Kroczynski of Poland, in Wilkie, Saskatchewan and they were married in Rama, Saskatchewan in 1933.
They had four children. Mary resided for most of her life in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and since moving to White Rock, was longing to come back home. Mary was predeceased by her husband Marian; her parents; her brothers John, Marian and Frank; and by her sisters Lena, Helen and Emily.
She leaves to mourn her children: Eleanor Ritchie, Richard and Alice Kroczynski of Saskatoon, Diana Delver, and Carol and Roy McCullough of Surrey, BC; her sister Adelle Karkut of Ituna; sixteen grandchildren, twenty-seven great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mom was a paramount homemaker. Her life was dedicated to being a devoted loving wife and mother.
She took care of her family so that they always had tasty nutritious food, clean clothes and their homework done.
She baked bread on the hottest days of the year and she could grow a garden, even in the 30's, that produced more than enough for her family and she could still give away lots to others.
Mary taught her children the value of looking for the good in people, being nice to everyone, and respecting all religions and creeds.
Mom was an active community and church member, a CWL member who loved to take part in bake sales, and bazaar craft events.
From childhood, she had a natural talent for design and sewing clothing. At the age of eight, she sewed herself a made over blouse and skirt using a lovely tweed second-hand winter coat. From then on she was a seamstress!
Her family always knew that whatever they wanted, Mary would come home and make it for them!
As well, Mom was an interesting storyteller, especially stories about being a pioneer child on the homestead, Christmas Concerts, Chataqua, and the Hewsons.
Mom alway said that she enjoyed her life to the fullest, and that if she had to live it over again, that she would not change a thing.
She accepted whatever life presented and believed in making the best of it.
She had unwavering faith and was model of what is decent and good in life.
A wonderful, simple woman who lived an extraordinary life. She was ours for a short time, but will always live in our hearts.
Thank you to all the wonderful nurses, recreation director, all the staff and patients at Weatherby for your kindness, gentleness and dedication in the care of our mother in her last years.
She thought the world of you and appreciated everything.
The Memorial Mass was held on Friday, December 9, 2005 at 11:00 am at Holy Family Church on 104th Street in Sutherland followed by a lunch.
Interment was held on Saturday, December 10th at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens with family members present.
Donations may be made to a charity of your choice.