BLENDER – Mrs. Mary Blender wife of the Late Bill Blender of the Preeceville Long Term Care Centre formerly of Sturgis and the Endeavour district passed away peacefully at the Preeceville Long Term Care Facility on October 8, 2017.

     Mary was predeceased by her husband Bill Blender in 2003, her parents Alex and Helen Lenych, brother Henry Lenych, sister Olga Oystryk, parents in law, George and Annie Blender, brothers in law Mike and Allan Blender, Clarence Mills and Nick Oystryk.

     She is survived by her four children, Raymond & Debbie Blender, Merwin & Tracy Blender, Debby & Brian Hearn and Sandra & Ed Hlushko; seven grandchildren, Marlyn & Tara Hearn, Loranda & Scott Shuba, Laura Blender & Shawn Ford, Melissa & Craig Vermette, Malory Hearn & Coby Heuther, Kaela Mae & Scott Rose and Tyler & Meghan Blender; six great grandchildren, Rylan & Nixon Hearn, Alecia Shuba, Aubrey & Rhys Blender and Jack Vermette.

     She is also survived by her brothers, Sam Lenych of Campbell River, B.C. and William Lenych of Sturgis, Saskatchewan. Her sisters, Annie Mills of Lethbridge, Alberta, Elizabeth (Mike) Folwark of Prince George, B.C., Jeannette (Nick) Sopiwnyk of North Battleford, Saskatchewan. Her aunt, Katherine Kuzik of Preeceville, Saskatchewan and uncle, Bill (Florence) Keveryga of Calgary, Alberta. As well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

     Mary, born on August 21, 1929, was the third child born to Alex and Helen (nee Keveryga) Lenych near Norquay Saskatchewan. She attended the Grantsburg, Gold Bank and Brush Valley Schools. They then moved to the Beaver Bank District but did not attend school in this district due to sickness. She stayed at home for a while and then went to babysit at different places. After this she worked for Isaac and Lena Kurulok for six months and then went to work for Mr. Peterson at a second-hand store in Sturgis.

     In 1946 Mary met her future husband Bill Blender at a ball game. They were married on July 12, 1947 at the Lutheran Church in Preeceville.  After they were married they lived on their farm in a house that Bill had built. Their farm was located in the Beaver Bank District, East of Endeavour. Mary’s farm life consisted of raising chickens, ducks, geese, cows, sheep and bees.  She had a HUGE garden every year and helped with the threshing and haying. Mary made her extra spending money selling cream, honey and eggs. She bought all her kitchen appliances and furniture with this extra money.  She canned everything and anything, there was always 100 quarts of each thing.  Mary enjoyed knitting socks and making quilts from the wool that they harvested from their sheep. Mary sewed a lot of clothing for her children, especially her daughters. She also taught a sewing class in Endeavour after the Sew and Stretch material was introduced.

     In 1979 Bill and Mary moved off the farm and into Sturgis. She continued in having a big garden as well as canning all her produce. She was always proud of her flowers of which there were many. Mary had many more hobbies which included knitting, crocheting and being a member of the READ Club in Sturgis. In the early years after moving to town, Mary babysat Kelly & Kerry Masley, Joel & Ingrid Christopherson and Athena, Jonathan & Christopher Greba.

     In 1978 Mary was diagnosed with Breast Cancer, she went on to overcome her battle and when the Relay for Life came to Preeceville she attended proudly as a Breast Cancer Survivor. Mary continued to live life to the fullest and enjoyed all the family functions. In 2011, Mary had heart complications which resulted in open heart surgery. After her surgery she was unable to live alone and became a resident of Long Term Care in the Sunrise Health District. She started out in the Theodore facility and was soon moved to Canora Gateway lodge where she waited for an opening in Preeceville. In January 2012 she moved to Preeceville Long Term Care where she spent the rest of her days.  While in Preeceville she continued her hobbies of knitting and crocheting as well as acquiring a new hobby of building puzzles. Anyone who visited the long term facility always ended up with her at the puzzle table whether they were family or not. While Mary is no longer at this facility her memory will live on in there through all the puzzles hanging on the walls for all the residents and visitors to enjoy for years to come. Mary also took part in almost every activity especially the outings. She went on her last outing to a Tea Party in August at Edie Belesky’s farm, she was a former care aide who helped look after Mary.

     Funeral Services were held on Saturday, October 14, 2017 from the Trinity United Church in Preeceville with Rev. Miles Russell officiating. The organist, Leanne Jakubowski with members of the church choir led the congregation in the singing of the hymns How Great Thou Art, Amazing Grace and What A Friend We Have In Jesus. Interment followed in the Green Leaf Cemetery with Peter German, Bill German, Nick Bodnar, Ron Bilanchuk, Daniel Wasylenchuk and Michael Andrusko serving as the casketbearers. Condolences can be sent to the family at www.preecevillehome.com  Memorials in memory of Mary Blender may be made to the Preeceville Long Term Care Auxillary as gifts of remembrance. Arrangements were entrusted to Preeceville Funeral Home.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Preeceville Funeral Home.

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