Anne (Pshyk) Wachniak

Peacefully, after a very brief illness, Anne Wachniak, 92 years of Watson, Saskatchewan, passed away on May 23, 2022. Her daughters, Donna and Michelle, sat with her to this well-earned rest/end.

Anne was born to Ilko (Alvin) and Teklya (Tillie Melnyk)  Pshyk  on April 13, 1930. She was the eldest of nine children. Born in a time of Ukrainian settlement of the Canadian Prairies, the family worked daily to encourage life from the fields.  It was a time of clearing the land, herds of cattle, pens of pigs, flocks of poultry and bountiful gardens.  All this to feed the family and beyond. As the oldest child, Anne worked along with her mother and was always needed to care for her younger siblings.             

As was common during these times, marriage came early in life.  Anne married Michael Wachniak on November 3, 1946. They lived  and worked in Hamilton, Ontario for 3 years: Mike in a farm machinery factory and Anne in a cotton mill. They then came back to their home area to farm and daughter Carol was born shortly thereafter. A tragic accident in the winter lumber camp cost Mike a lower leg. This did not slow him down completely and with Anne always working by his side, Mike was the last to work the original Wachniak homestead.

They bought the M & S Store in Gronlid, SK and eventually the local pool hall.  Two more daughters, Donna and Michelle, were born during this time in town.  Anne was always a totally committed workmate.  In 1968, the family moved to Watson, SK with the purchase of the Watson Auction Market. After Mike’s sudden death in 1978, Anne and Donna ran the business for several more years.

Anne’s love of flowers and gardening was a constant throughout her life. She had a large garden to tend and many perennials to colour her yard. It finally came her turn to be looked after when Anne moved into the Quill Plains Centennial Lodge of Watson, SK in 2016.

Anne was predeceased by all of her siblings: Mary (and Frank) Mihilewicz, Victoria (and Bill) Lackonick, Nick, Elsie (and Joe Preete), Michael  (at 9 years of age),  Cecilia, Jerry and  Iris.

Anne is missed and mourned by daughters Carol, Donna and Michelle; grandchildren Nathan Martindale (Karen) and Tanissa Martindale (Rene Burgos), great-grandchildren Sierra Anya and Oakley Cameron Michael Martindale, sister-in-law Kathy Pshyk, brother-in-law Walter Wachniak (Elizabeth), and several nieces and nephews.

Sincere gratitude is extended to the kind and caring staff at Quill Plains Centennial Lodge.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Ukrainian Canadian Appeal through the Ukrainian Canadian Congress or to Quill Plains Centennial Lodge (Watson).

A Funeral Service for Anne was held on Monday, May 30, 2022 at 2:00 pm at Malinoski and Danyluik Funeral Home in Humboldt, SK, officiated by Rev. Petro Tsenov, cantor: Zennovia Duch and server: Nick Kaweski. Interment followed at Saint Michael’s Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery in Watson, SK.     

Vichnaya Pamyat / May her memory be eternal.