Lillian Grace Karcha

    Lillian Grace Karcha (Long) was born on October 28, 1945 in Endeavour district. She was the youngest of 7 siblings born to Robert and Grace Long. Lillian grew up on the Long farm by Endeavour where she attended school. She then went to Sturgis School.

    Lillian moved to Lanigan for employment and then followed Betty Tonn to Regina to be a waitress in a restaurant. Lil moved back to Preeceville in 1971. She had known Harry Karcha since they were children. After her return to Preeceville a romance began and on October 28, 1974 Harry and Lil were married on the Karcha family farm with Kim, Cheryl and James by their side. Rev. Ron Jevons of the United Church officiated. They were blessed with two more children, Robert and Blair, to complete their family. They moved to the Karcha family farm in 1975 having bought it from Harry’s parents who then moved to Preeceville.

    Life on the farm was a busy place. It was a mixed farm, with cattle and grain. Over the years there were a lot of different animals: cattle, sheep, dogs, geese, a llama, donkeys, a buffalo and a goat.

Lillian always had a huge garden (or two), as well as numerous flower beds, ponds, raspberries, strawberries, saskatoon trees, grapes, perennial flowers, and lilies galore! 

    Lillian was a cook in Long Term Care for close to 50 years.  Everyone she cooked for got what they liked best. Some residents got extra dill, another a pickle, others, specific cereal. She always went above and beyond to make Christmas and holidays special.  She often joked she was going to work until she traded in her apron for a nightgown. Lil retired in July of 2022, but even this last Christmas she was in the kitchen at the Christmas Party at Crozier Care Home helping out!

    Lillian was always involved in her kids and grandchildren activities and loved to help where help was needed.  She was part of the crew that cut grass at Hinchcliff Cemetery, and made perogies at the United Church. The last few years Lillian and Harry were part of a small group of people who repaired the headstones and refreshed the lettering with white paint at St. Demetrius cemetery near Lady Lake. It was her dream to see the church, buildings, and grave sights restored and maintained.

    Lillian was predeceased by her husband, Harry, in May, 2022; her parents, Robert and Grace Long; her siblings, Jim (Sharon), George (Dianna), Donald, and Shirley (Alfred) and brother-in-law, Don Wiley.

    Lillian is survived by her five children and their partners, Kim and Mark, Cheryl and Russell, James and Lee Ann, Robert and Marsha and Blair; grandchildren and their partners, Dean and Trish, Carla and Mike, Ryan and Christina, Chris and Ashten, Katherine and Tyrel, Jessie and Rachel, Kyla and Craig, Matthew , Autumn, Sierra and her boyfriend Hunter, Shaylyn, Tiernan, Braden, Zachery, Halen, Elissa, Rebecca; Great-grandchildren, Carsyn, Tucker, Hunter, Scarlet, Emma, Claire, Gavin, Hannah, Aryan and Jayden; sisters, June and Laura; sister-in-law, Ivis as well as nieces and nephews and their families, cousins, other relatives and extended family and close friends.