ANNE BOYCHUK

Surrounded by many members of her loving family, Anne’s spirit passed into the presence of the Lord at 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 6th, 2018.  Anne was born the 5th of 6 children in the August family in Southey, Saskatchewan on November 27th, 1918.  She graduated from high school at the age of 16 and continued her education, becoming a teacher while still in her teens.  Anne taught in various school districts in southern Saskatchewan for 8 years until marrying Anton Boychuk of Bayard, SK on October 8th, 1945.  In 1948, Anne and Anton moved from their farm to Moose Jaw, SK where they raised a family of 3 boys and 2 girls.  Anne dedicated her life to being a stay-at-home mother. In her younger years, she served on the Moose Jaw executives of the Catholic Women’s League, the St. Agnes Home and School Association, and the Lions Band Auxiliary, to name just a few.  In her mid-40’s, she joined the Lions parents’ band, learning to play the clarinet. In the second half of her life, Anne became an avid craftsperson, spending many happy hours doing ceramics, oil painting, wheat weaving, cake decorating, paper tole, china painting, and crafting items using plastic canvas.  As well, she was a dedicated member of the Moose Jaw Ronald McDonald craft group for 24 years, producing toys for the children at the Ronald McDonald House in Saskatoon, SK. Anne and Anton delivered Meals on Wheels and actively supported numerous charities at this time. Always interested in writing, Anne was a member of the Prairie Pens writing group for many years and wrote a poem, “Ode to a Rose”, at age 88 which won her the gold medal in the South Saskatchewan Seniors’ poetry competition.  Also, in her late 80’s, she wrote biographies of her grandparents, parents, her late husband and her own autobiography. Her book was published in 2011 as a lasting legacy to her family. Following 53 years of loving marriage, her husband Anton passed away and Anne continued living by herself in her own home until she was 98, with daily checks by her youngest son Darren who lives in Moose Jaw. The rest of the family contributed by doing maintenance, landscaping, and house cleaning during their visits.  Ever interested in taking on a new challenge, Anne, at age 92, learned to email on her new IPad, given to her by her son Kevin. Between regular phone calls, we all emailed with her, getting a chuckle out of some of the words or phrases that came from her end as she had asked for spell-check to be disabled. Anne was an avid Warriors’ fan and wore her “green” for every Roughriders game. She lived with a very positive attitude during numerous health setbacks throughout the years and her motto was, “Do unto others what you want them to do unto you”.  In December of 2016, Mom broke a hip and spent her remaining days living at Pioneer Lodge where keeping up with local and world news, emailing, bingo and carpet bowling became favorite pastimes. Anne’s family is grateful to the many members on staff who treated her with gentleness, empathy and respect. She was predeceased by her husband, Anton in 1998; her parents; 3 sisters and 2 brothers. Anne is survived by her loving and grateful family: Barry (Carol) of Sherwood Park, AB and their sons Aaron (Kayla) of Lethbridge, AB and Dana (Chenee) of Edmonton, AB; Arleen (Stuart) Davison and their sons Owen (Heather) of Summerside, PEI and Shawn (Melissa) of Sherwood Park, AB; Wendy (Charlie) Rapley of Regina, SK and their son Tony (Anne) of Saskatoon, SK and their children Ryan and Laura (Anne’s great-grandchildren), and their daughter Sherry of Regina, SK; Kevin (Gail) of Saskatoon, SK; and Darren of Moose Jaw, SK.  Anne is also survived by many in-laws, nieces, nephews, and friends she touched throughout her life.  The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, March 12th, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. in St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, 1064-3rd Ave NW, Moose Jaw, SK.  Father Hector Seville will be the presiding celebrant and interment beside her loving husband will follow at Rosedale Cemetery.  A Prayer Service will be held on Sunday, March 11th, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. in Moose Jaw Funeral Home.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Anne’s name may be made to a charity of one’s choice.  Arrangements are entrusted to Moose Jaw Funeral Home, 268 Mulberry Lane. Calvin Gammel, Funeral Director 306-693-4550