Annie Szeles

   Annie Szeles wife of the late Julius Szeles passed away on Friday, November 6, 2020. She was 95 years of age. Annie was born on July 23, 1925 to Margaret (nee Appel) and Peter Fialkowski in Grayson, SK. She was the 5th of 9 children. In 1927 the family moved to Rockford, SK. The little old log shack that was abandoned on McDonald's across from them was their shelter. They lived in this with blankets for doors and sheets covering the windows until they built a log house on their own quarter of land. Annie attended school at the old North Rockford school and at Peerless. Later, in 1937, Stoney Acre was opened. 

   On October 22, 1946 she married Julius Szeles in St. Leo's Roman Catholic Church at Rockford. This church was built in 1937 on land donated by Peter and Margaret Fialkowski.  Before they were married, Annie worked for Tom Richard and Tony and Lena Hartl for $15 & $35 a month respectively, doing chores.  After they were married, they lived with Mrs. Julia Szeles. They later moved to the quarter north of the Rockford store. They cut cordwood and sold it to Melville Brothers for $3 a cord. Then they bought a sawmill and started sawing lumber. Lumber was sold to Saskatchewan Timber Board at Sturgis for $25-$32 a thousand. They sawed for about Twenty-three winters and some in the summer between seeding and harvest. Annie scrubbed clothes on a washboard for 14 years before a gas-powered wringer-washer was bought. 

   In 1971 Annie and Julius moved to Regina, SK and later sold the homestead. While in Regina she worked as a cook and waitress and also managed an apartment building.  Annie and Julius moved back to Rockford in 1978 or 1979 and bought a quarter of land 1 1/2 miles south of the original homestead where Annie lived for the remainder of her years. 

   Once they moved back to Rockford, they worked up north on the highways and Annie drove a packer. They then started a carpentry business and kept busy with building and installing windows, building little barns as well as carpentry projects for many people in the community. Annie & Julius kept cattle, pigs, chickens and even added buffalo to the mix for a while. Annie loved horses and over the years kept a few different ones on the farm. She also had a knack for gardening and the cold room was always full of preserves and the potato bin was overflowing. In the summer the vegetable garden and flower beds were simply beautiful. 

   Annie was a very talented quilter and so many were privileged to be given a handmade patchwork quilt. Beautiful knitted mittens and socks were always a very welcome Christmas gift. Anyone she knew that had a baby was sure to get a crocheted baby dress or blanket. These gifts, handmade with love, were always treasured keepsakes.  Annie was a wonderful cook and baker and fed many people over the years. She could make a meal out of nothing and there wasn't a single person that stopped by that she did not welcome into her home and treat them like family. She put out a big spread for everyone that walked through the door and there is not one person that ever walked away from her table without a full belly. 

   Annie was a mother of 6 children, Darvin (Loraine) Szeles, Judy (Ken) Vewchar, Lawrence (Linda) Szeles, Alice Alberts, Sherion (Ron) Young and Shirley Trottier. Grandmother of 20, great grandmother of 38 and a great great grandmother of 4. 

    She is survived by her sister Alice Toth and brother Carl Fialkowski. 

   Annie was predeceased by her husband Julius, son Lawrence, Father Peter, Mother Margaret, siblings: Wenzel & Peter (both in infancy), George, Rose, Jack and Margaret.

    Annie will be missed by all that knew and loved her.

A family graveside service was held on November 12, 202 at St. Leo’s Roman Catholic Parish Cemetery with Father Michal Pajak officiating. Connie Gottinger, Michael Szeles, Belinda Bocking, Melissa Szeles, Monica Padalec, Merlynn Vewchar, Elissa McKinnon, Danny Bernard, Marley Vewchar, Renee Topley, Kassay Wasylucha, Wyatt Szeles, Dallas Viloria, Jody Alberts, Rockey Young, Kim Young, Tyrone Walters, Joshua Walters, Tyler Trottier, Kaitlin Chunyk served as Honourary Casketbearers.
   Memorials in memory of Annie may be made to Kelvington Hospital or to St. Leo’s Roman Catholic Parish Cemetery as gifts of remembrance.