Obituary of Sophie Lupichuk

Sophie Lupichuk October 17, 1929 – February 24, 2018 It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our mother, Sophie Lupichuk on February 24, 2018. Sophie was born in Samburg, Sask., on October 17, 1929. She was raised in a large family on the family farm. Sophie learned the value of close family ties and hard work during the hard years of the depression. She often talked about walking miles to school each day through the cold and snow. She was most upset that the times dictated girls had to wear dresses for those long, cold treks to school, and she celebrated when she was finally allowed to wear pants like her brothers did. Mom’s family was close and some of her children’s best memories are of the Christmas and Easter gatherings out at Baba and Gido’s farm. The supper was always exceptional and there were so many cousins to play with! In 1955, Sophie married Harry Lupichuk and they moved to a quarter of land south of Weirdale where they worked hard to expand the farm and raise their five children. Mom was the typical farmer’s wife. She could do anything. She cooked, baked, sewed, knitted and embroidered. She milked cows twice a day. She grew a huge garden. Her children spent lots of time in that garden picking vegetables, strawberries and raspberries. Although her kids often complained about the work involved in that garden, mom loved being there, and she was proud of how well it did each year. Mom also helped on the fields driving equipment to help with haying and harvest. Our best memories are of coming home after school on the day she baked bread. Oh, what a wonderful smell. We won’t ever forget the taste of that warm bread. Christmas Eve and Easter dinners were a special treat with all the Ukrainian dishes and mom’s huge assortment of pies. Sorry everybody out there, but our mom made the best pie crust and pies we’ve ever tasted! Besides all the cooking, baking, and gardening, mom was very involved with her community. She belonged to the Weirdale Curling Club and played on the ladies’ softball team. Mom also played Kaiser in many tournaments in Weirdale and the surrounding community. Mom also made time to chauffer her kids to volleyball and basketball games. Mom taught her children the value of hard work and family. She loved and valued each one of us. In 1989, mom moved to Prince Albert where she lived with her son Barry. Mom had an active life caring for her home and for Barry. She still managed to have a big garden and a full freezer of vegetables. Her kids and grandkids loved to come over for a meal of borscht, beet leaves or perogies. She continued to play Kaiser at the East Hill Community Hall and go to mass on Sundays. She always enjoyed the company of her close friends and relatives who visited her. She knitted countless pairs of mitts for various school children in Prince Albert and Saskatoon. Mom’s greatest joy was spending time with and caring for her grandchildren. They were treated to rides to the park, the mall or the Dairy Queen as passengers on her wheelchair. If mom would have had her way, her grandkids would have lived with her during the week, and their parents would have taken them home for the weekend. Mom’s sense of humour was unique. By 1989, mom was confined to a wheelchair. She went everywhere in it and drove it at the highest speed possible. This practice led to some “accidents”. Most famously, while reaching down to pick up a pop can, she accidently snagged the toggle on the control panel and plunged over the embankment at the viaduct on Central Avenue. Her description of the hours it took getting down that steep hill to the bottom of Fifteenth Street was hilarious especially when she still displayed the bruises from the experience. It didn’t slow her down. When she had other falls out of the wheelchair, the firemen would arrive to lift her back in. She would joke with them that she tumbled out of her chair just so she could be “picked up by some handsome men.” Her sense of humour was always on the naughty side. On her 70th birthday, her kids decided to share in some naughty humour with her. They presented her with the “perfect man”- one who would always listen and never talk back. Mom laughed the hardest when she saw that her “perfect man” was a blow-up of a man in a suit and tie. In 2010, Roselle Quimpan became mom’s caregiver. Because of Roselle, mom was able to remain in her home until 2013. Mom, Barry and Roselle had a great relationship. Mom and Barry appreciated Roselle’s kindness and those wonderful spring rolls! Mom always said, “Roselle is a good girl”, which was a real complement from mom who always said it “like it was”. Roselle, our family will be forever grateful for the care you gave mom! By the end of 2013, mom became a resident of Mont St. Joseph’s care home. She was warmly welcomed there. The staff treated Sophie with kindness and respect. They also appreciated her humour. Our family always felt she was safe and cared for there. Thank you to the staff of Mont St. Joseph’s for everything you did to make mom’s last years as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. Mom cherished her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved Doug and John, her sons-in-law and Raelene, her daughter-in-law for all the help, kindness and humour they shared with her. All of mom’s immediate and extended family were important to her. Mom, we love you and miss you so much! We will cherish all the memories we have of you! “The loss of a mother can never be replaced, but the love of a mother can never be lost.” - Kelly Flannery. Sophie is survived by her children: Betty (Doug) Cooper, Judy Kendel, Connie Lupichuk (John Odishaw), Leonard (Raelene) Lupichuk and Barry Lupichuk; her grandchildren: Mitchell Lupichuk, Megan Cooper (Chris Burcin), Jessica Wozniak, Nicolette Larson (Ashton Brandoline), Justin Lupichuk, Devin Lupichuk and Amanda Lupichuk; her great-grandchildren: Jaiden Larson Wojciechowski, Willow Wozniak, Hesper Wozniak and Charlie Brandoline; her brother: Tom (Gloria) Slonski; her sisters-in law: Rosie Slonski and Helen Lupichuk; and many nieces, nephews and their children and grandchildren. Sophie is predeceased by her parents: John and Maria Slonski; her brothers: Joe, Pete, Frank, Adam and Mike Slonski; her sisters: Pauline Kalinowski and Helen Stankowski; three siblings in infancy; her nephews: Bobby and Clarence Slonski; her brothers-in- law: Harry Kalinowski and Adam Stankowski; her sisters-in-law: Katie Molitwenik, Marie Slonski and Vicki Slonski. It is Sophie’s request that there be no funeral. For those who wish to send a tribute, it is the family’s wish that tributes be forwarded to the Mont St. Joseph’s Foundation at https://montstjoseph.org/who-we-are/. Family and friends wishing to send online condolences are welcome to visit www.beaulacfuneralhome.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Beau “Lac” Funeral Home, Lorne Adams, Funeral Director, Prince Albert, SK 306-763-3322.