Mrs. Kate Pasiechnyk wife of the late William Pasiechnyk of Preeceville formerly of Hazel Dell, passed away on January 29, 2017, in Preeceville. She was eighty-seven years of age.

     Kate was born on March 6, 1929 on the farm near Hazel Dell to Mary and Wasyl Sochan. She attended Partridge Hill School in the area. Kate excelled in school and sports, doing very well in the elementary grades. She wanted to continue her education, but schooling beyond elementary grades required moving away from home. In those days, that was very difficult. According to Kate, their school softball team was so good that some schools prevented them from entering tournaments because they would always win.

     On October 25, 1947 Kate married the love of her life, William (Bill) Pasiechnyk, a neighbor boy. The families knew each other well. A few days after the wedding, they moved to Copper Mountain, BC where William resumed his mining career. Kate then started her domestic career.

     Their first child was born in September 1948. After some scary winter driving conditions on the narrow, winding mountain road, Kate decided that she did not want to live there any more. They moved back to Hazel Dell in the summer of 1949 and started a Cafe business. They added a pool room a few years later. This became a popular gathering spot for local patrons.

     Between 1954 and 1959, another three children were added to the family. In addition to raising four children, Kate managed the Cafe and Pool Room business pretty well single handedly since William was gone a fair amount of time operating a road grader and other activities.

     Kate loved gardening and grew a big garden every year. In addition to all of this, Kate was the local telephone operator and she and Bill also managed the CN Rail Station. They met the trains twice a day in the early years. When Bill was out of town, Kate had to squeeze these activities in on her own. Regardless of how busy she was, Kate always welcomed visiting friends and family with open arms and with an over abundance of food. This was Kate's trademark for as long as she could cook.

     In 1959, Kate and Bill bought a quarter section of land a mile south of Hazel Dell and started a mink ranch while continuing the Cafe and Pool Room business. They later got into raising cattle (milking cows) and grain farming. In 1965, they built a house on the farm and moved there in the spring of 1966. While on the farm, Kate continued to grow huge gardens and of course, continued her love of cooking, canning, baking and welcoming friends and family. Kate was a very community minded person. She was involved and helped whenever and wherever she could. Kate participated in and volunteered many hours for such things as Husky Days, fall suppers, fund raising for the community hall and many other events. She was also very involved with the local Ukrainian Catholic church.

     In 1989, Kate and Bill retired from the farm and moved into Hazel Dell. A year later, they purchased their retirement home in Preeceville. During their retirement, Kate and Bill traveled to such places as Ontario, Quebec, Western Canada and a good portion of the USA and Mexico. They enjoyed this travel very much, especially the bus trips. Kate always had lots of stories to tell.

     Kate is survived by her loving family, son Lorance (Barb) Pasiechnyk of Calgary, AB and grandchildren Cayle (Karen) Pasiechnyk of Sparwood, BC and their children Sullivan and Hendrix; Carmen (Dustin) Larsen of Lethbridge, AB and their son Owen; son Ken (Ruth) Pasiechnyk of Regina, SK and grandchildren Adam (Erin) Pasiechnyk of Regina, SK and their son Carter; Chad Pasiechnyk of Regina, SK, Alissa (Chris) Kuntz of Regina, SK; son Joe (Linda) Pasiechnyk of Hazel Dell, SK and grandchildren David (Megan) Pasiechnyk of Edmonton, AB, Brittany (Joel) Karcha of Swift Current, SK and their son Daniel; daughter Jane (Glen) Glass of Cochrane, AB and grandchildren Jeff (Allie) Glass of Rockford Illinois, Trevor (Kenzie) Glass of Charleston South Carolina, Kevin Glass of Calgary, AB ; her sisters Nettie Matlock of Vernon, BC and Susie Genoway of Saskatoon, SK as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Kate was predeceased by her husband William, parents Mary and Wasyl Sochan, brothers Pete, Joe, Ted, and Paul Sochan and sisters Anne Luciow and Florence Nawroski.

     Prayer services were held on Thursday, February 2, 2017 from the chapel of Preeceville Funeral Home. Requiem Divine Liturgy was celebrated on Friday, February 3, 2017 from Holy Transfiguration Ukrainian Catholic Church in Preeceville with Very Rev. Fr. Joakim Rac as the Celebrant. Grandson David Pasiechnyk read the epistle reading and granddaughter, Carmen Larsen served as the crossbearer. Tributes and words of remembrance were given by Lorance Pasiechnyk and Jane Glass.  Honourary bearers were Kate’s grandchildren Cayle Pasiechnyk, Adam Pasiechnyk, Trevor Glass and Jeff Glass. Interment followed in the Preeceville Community Cemetery with grandchildren, Alissa Kuntz, Brittany Karcha, Chad Pasiechnyk, Kevin Glass, David Pasiechnyk and grandson in law Dustin Larsen serving as the casketbearers.

Vichnaya Pamyat ! – Eternal Memory !

     Condolences can be sent to the family at www.preecevillefuneralhome.com  Memorials in memory of Kate may be made to the Preeceville Long Term Care Auxiliary.  

     Arrangements were entrusted to Preeceville Funeral Home.

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