Stella (Kaskiw) Mandryk

After a lifetime of love, kindness and joyful perseverance, Stella Mandryk has passed on.
She was predeceased by her husband of almost 70 years, John Mandryk, parents, Matey and Alexandra Kaskiw, brother, John Kaskiw, sons, Jim Mandryk and Jack Mandryk (Marg) and a newborn daughter.
Left to mourn are son, Don (Leona) of Parksville, B.C., daughter, Patricia Orsak (Paul) of Binscarth, daughter, Betty Anne (Philip) of Lac du Bonnet, son Murray of Regina, 15 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Born in Borchiw, Poland, Stella came to Canada as an infant with her family that settled in the Venlaw area. They brought with them generosity and resilience, for which she would become known.

Shortly after her marriage to John in 1942 and his discharge from the army, the family would settle on a quarter-section farm seven miles north of Grandview. Stella would became renown for her green thumb in her massive garden, her well-cared-for yard and her tireless work ethic running a mixed farming operation including milking cows.
Her amazing canning, cooking skills and hospitality became legendary to family, friends and neighbours. All visitors were greeted with the question: “Can I fix you something to eat?” Seldom was the answer “no.”
She loved having visitors and especially loved a good card game with friends, neighbours and, later, her grandkids. Each grandchild was made to feel special by grandma’s lavish attention.
Caring for her family was the single most important thing in Stella’s world.
Stella was immensely proud of all her children and grandchildren, stressing her values of a good education and always demonstrating hard work, frugality and, most importantly, kindness.
She became caregiver to her own elderly parents who lived out their final days on the farm and later to John after their retirement in Grandview. She almost never missed a day visiting John in the personal care home in his final years when she could no longer care for him.
Hers was not an easy life, losing her only brother, suffering a brain tumour as a young mother that left her with limited mobility and dealing with kidney cancer two decades ago.
But Stella accepted these challenges without complaint and was always grateful for her blessings. Stella was an active member of Holy Trinity (Grifton) & St. Elias Ukrainian Catholic parishes. Stella's unshakeable faith,  helped her and her entire family through its darkest hours. 
Stella brightened everyone else’s world with her love.

The family would like to thank her special neighbours always there to lend her a hand and the Prairie Mountain Health homecare workers for their care & support in helping to fulfill Mom's wish to stay in her own home.

 In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a charity of one’s choice. 

Private services will be held due to Covid 19 restrictions.

Vichnaya Pamyat

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