Annie Belesky

Mrs. Annie Belesky widow of John Belesky of Preeceville passed away on Friday, March 1, 2019 at the Preeceville Health Centre. She was ninety five years of age.

Prayers will be held on Wednesday, March 6, 2019  at 7:00 p.m. from the Holy Transfiguration Ukrainian Catholic Church in Preeceville.

Requiem Divine Liturgy will be celebrated on Thursday, March 7, 2019  at 10:00 a.m. from the Holy Transfiguration Ukrainian Catholic Church in Preeceville.

Interment will follow in the Holy Transfiguration Ukrainian Catholic Parish Cemetery in Preeceville.

Memorials in memory of Annie may be made to the Holy Transfiguration Ukrainian Catholic Church or to the Parish Cemetery Fund as gifts of remembrance.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Preeceville Funeral Home.

Annie (Anisja) Belesky was born March 13, 1923 to Joseph and Sophia Niznik (Bewz) in Ukraine in the village of Nowy Tok in the Region of Rivne.  She attended school in her village learning both Ukrainian and Polish.  Her father died in 1936.  In 1938, at age 14, Annie wished to come to Canada. She was overjoyed when she received a letter from her Uncle in Canada, her dream would come true! She was 15 when, leaving behind her mother, sister Tanya, and brother Steven, she joined relatives.  She travelled 8 days by ship and landed at Halifax.  From there she took a train to Saskatchewan and then travelled to Loon Lake area to stay with her Uncle Mike Niznik, his wife Annie and two daughters, Jean and Nellie.  There she met John Belesky and they married on June 4, 1939.  In 1948 they bought a farm in the Hazel Dell district where they raised 5 children and were members at Dobrowody Ukrainian Catholic Church. 

In 1977 John and Annie retired from farming and moved into Preeceville and became members at the Holy Transfiguration Ukrainian Catholic Church.  There Annie spent her time tending her garden, making quilts and perogies for children & her grandchildren and doing Ukrainian cross-stitching for friends and the church.  She was a member of Club 60 and enjoyed carpet bowling. 

In 1984, Annie travelled back to Ukraine and was reunited with her sister after 45 years.  Waiting for her at her sister’s place where she was born, were around 20 family members, friends and neighbours, something she was not expecting. At the age of 91 Annie decided to move to the Preeceville Personal Care Home, where she enjoyed her time there as she was well taken care of.   Predeceased by her husband John in 1980; her parents, brother Stephan and sister Tanya all in Ukraine, and son- in-law Harry Moosburger.    

Annie is survived by 2 sons – Peter of Preeceville, Orest (Edie) of Endeavour and 3 daughters – Lydia Moosburger, Elizabeth Galan and Oristeen Kell all of Regina, 13 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. 

The family wants to extend a special thank you to the owners and staff at the Preeceville Personal Care Home (which became her extended family) for looking after our Mom and Baba, which she called home for the past 4 years.