Obituary of Annie Smuk

Annie Mary Smuk of Hodgeville, SK, passed away peacefully with family by her side on August 23, 2018, at the Herbert & District Integrated Health Facility. Annie was born near Chaplain, SK on October 6, 1933, along with her twin sister Jennie. They were born in a grainery that had been converted into a temporary house while a new home was being built. Annie was one of five children born to William and Mary (nee Kryk) Blaschuck. She grew up working hard on the family farm, tending to animals, the garden, housework, and many other chores. Like most twins, Annie and Jennie were best friends. They were always together at school, church, working on the farm, and playing ball. They shared many hobbies, interests, and a competitive spirit. When Jennie met a gentleman from Hodgeville named Peter Smuk, and it wasn’t long before his brother John Smuk began courting Annie. John and Annie were married on June 28, 1953. They moved to a quarter of land John owned, and then to Hodgeville for the winter. They sold the land John owned and bought a half section two miles south of Hodgeville, where they moved the following year. Annie and Jennie were thrilled, as their homes were across the road from each other. It was also that spring that Annie and John started their family. Christene was born in 1954, followed by Mary in 1957 and Michael in 1959. During the years that they farmed Annie helped wherever she could, especially with making lunches and taking meals out to the field. Annie always had an impressive garden and many flowers around the house. Her favorite time was harvest; she loved seeing combines in the field and would go out every chance she could get. Annie and John ran a small heard of cattle, had pigs and poultry, but most important were her chickens. Annie loved her chickens. She enjoyed picking eggs, setting a hen, raising baby chicks, and even butchering, which always involved family and friends. Annie was thrilled when she became a grandmother. She would love when the grandkids would come over and they would spend countless hours playing games and helping in the garden and yard. They also went on many camping and fishing adventures together. Annie was a fantastic cook and her family each had their own favorites, but her specialty was perogies. Annie made perogies not by the dozens but by the hundreds. She kept her family’s freezers stocked and even sold to a select few customers. When Annie decided to donate a few dozen perogies to a fundraiser in Hodgeville, she was absolutely astonished to see people pay hundreds of dollars for a few dozen perogies. She was even more amazed to see it happen year after year, right up to and including this past spring. Community and volunteering were important to Annie. She was a member of the Royal Purple, CWL, and a very active member of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, helping with the upkeep, doing books, and the yearly fowl supper. After they moved to Hodgeville, Annie and John went on to worship at the Roman Catholic Church. They joined the Seniors Club, where Annie enjoyed the get-togethers, suppers, playing cards, and most of all Bingo. She liked to call Bingo but especially loved to play. And more often than not, she would win a few dollars. Annie was a collector of coins, angel figurines, and anything with a chicken or rooster on it. But of all her many joys and passions, there were none more near and dear to her heart than friends and family. Annie lost the love of her life in June of 2016 when John passed away. She continued to live in Hodgeville until moving to Herbert in June of 2018. She spent those years attending community and church functions, and visiting neighbors and friends. She enjoyed spending time in Swift Current with her daughter Christene, shopping with Mary, going on road trips, or taking a drive out to the farm to check up on Mike and Jeff and to see the animals. She always looked forward to going for supper with her group of friends that she affectionately referred to as "the girls.” She was devastated by the loss of her daughter Mary in June of this year. Annie was the definition of hard work, family, faith, and friendship. She touched the lives of everyone who ever met her. She will be forever loved and will remain in the hearts of those who knew her. Annie is survived by her loving family, daughter Christene (David) Bender, grandson Shawn (Karen) Bender, great grandchildren Kinsey, Boone, Conner; son Mike (Linda) Smuk, grandson Jeff Smuk, grandson Alan Smuk; siblings Stefia Sims, Peter Blaczczok, Walter (Verna) Blaschuck. She was predeceased by her husband John Smuk (2016); daughter Mary Tardiff (2018); and twin sister Jennie Smuk. Annie’s family would like to express a special thank you to the staff at the Herbert & District Integrated Health Facility and to Annie’s neighbours: Scot and Mona, Kevin and Sheila, Barb, Rick and Mary Ann, Darren and Karen and the girls and the Kerr family. Funeral Mass was held on Thursday, August 30, 2018, 2:00 p.m., at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Hodgeville, SK, with Father Hector Seville celebrant. Urn bearer was Mike Smuk. The readers were Greg Smuk and Shawn Bender. The eulogy was shared by Linda Smuk. Vocalist Robyn Henry was accompanied by organist Deb Waldenberger. Private Family Interment at St. Peter and St. Paul Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery will take place at a later date. Memorial donations in memory of Annie to the Herbert Group Home, Box 578, Herbert, SK S0H 2A0, were greatly appreciated.