Anne (Gromniski) Sopel

Anne's service will be available to view until January 1, 2022.  Scroll to the bottom of the obituary for the link to watch.

Anne Sopel (née Gromniski) of Stenen passed away on November 26, 2021.

Mom was born on December 8, 1929  to Marie and Steven Gromniski on the farm in the Wood Lite  district. She along with her siblings attended the  Wood Lite school and she completed her grade 10. She loved school and sure was not ready to be leaving her studies behind, but farm chores required her presence.  Mom married Dad (Frank Sopel) on Nov 20, 1948.  They lived and worked together on the farm in the Gold Bank district until Dad’s passing on March 20, 1985. They raised 4 children.  Mom was an avid gardener and took great pride in the fruits of her labor. It didn’t seem to matter that the year was not conducive to growing a good garden, her garden was usually very successful. She took great pride in growing the largest pumpkins in the area. She was a wonderful cook and made the best buns in the world.  She was well known for accomplishing many things in a day.  Plucking 50 chickens in a day or making 20 pounds of flour into pyrohy in one afternoon were  the norm for her. Rototilling her entire garden in one day, just because she could,  was not unusual for her either. She was also known for carrying newborn calves a mile because the mothers left it  behind. She was the bingo players driver to Stenen  for many years. Mom was an avid CFL fan. If a game was televised she was watching. It didn’t have to be the Roughriders playing, she so enjoyed all the games. Mom was also a fan of travelling. Her first Caribbean cruise brought her great joy and going on rides in Disneyland was so much fun at the age of 67.  Then there was Las Vegas - at first she said this is not for me, until the quarters starting falling out of the slot machine, oh how her tune changed.  As life moved on, Mom moved to Sturgis and took up residence in the house her parents lived in.  She continued playing bingo and was an active member of the CWL.  Mom experienced a few health challenges later on in life; however, none were as challenging as dementia.  With the help of many people mom was able to stay in her home for three years as she battled the disease.  Her”bestest”friend, Lillian Smith was there by her side every day, and many times more than once a day. Whether it was to play cards with her at 3 o’clock, give her a perm, or to provide a meal for her,  Lillian was always there.

Mom will be lovingly remembered by her four children: Bernie (Connie), Donna (Rick), Dalven (Laura) & Andrea; grandchildren: Derrick, Kimberly (Scott), Brent, Shelley, Allison, Devin (Tyler), Dilan, and Jillian; great grandchildren: Brianna, Kenneth, Kelsey, Ashley, Keeley, Cooper, Lyla, Jayla, Corbin and Dawson.  She is also survived by two sisters: Elsie of Burnaby, BC and Isabell of Edmonton AB; and three sisters-in-law: Elvina Stasuik of Yorkton, Annie  Yagelniski of Kelowna, BC and Lila Gromniski of Winnipeg, MB.  Mom was predeceased by her parents Steve and Marie Gromniski;  husband Frank; brothers Anthony, Mike, Allan, and John; sisters Lila, Evelyn, and Mary; mother and father-in-law Peter and Mary Sopel; numerous brothers-and-sisters-in-law; as well as nieces, nephews and one great nephew.  The Funeral Mass for Anne was held on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at 9:45 a.m. at St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Sturgis, SK, celebrated by Fr. Michal Pajak, OMI. Interment followed at the Canora Cemetery, Canora, SK.