Bernice’s Obituary
Bernice Zatwarnitski, the beloved Mother of Cynthia, Cheryl and Darren Zatwarnitski, was welcomed into the arms of her loving Lord and Savior on Monday, March 23, 2020, in Regina, SK.
Born May 12, 1935 in the Jedburgh district, Bernice was the second eldest child of Mike and Minnie (Gorchinski) Karapita.
Bernice was raised by a loving, hardworking family that homesteaded their land. It was through their labour and hard work that embedded a deep sense of caring for every possession the good Lord blessed her with. Her yard was always meticulously kept. She took snow removal to a whole new level by moving the snow and creating a two-lane highway all around her house. No stranger to hard work, in the summer you would find her outside wearing her trademark white socks, on her hands and knees pulling every weed in her garden as well as trimming every unruly branch and blade of grass to perfection. Without a doubt, she had the cleanest windows and car in the country. Renovating her home and outside shed she undertook as many projects as she could. This included painting, installing insulation, vapor barriers and hammering and nailing whatever she could with her own two hands. She loved the new shed she had built in 2018 crafting it with every single detail to perfection. Her beautiful hands tell the story of the labours they performed.
In 1952, Bernice married William (Bill) Zatwarnitski in Yorkton. Bill was the son of the late Fred and Rose (Rodych) Zatwarnitski of Sheho.
Bill and Bernice lived in the Jedburgh area, where Bill taught at Forest Nook School until it was closed in 1965. It is here they welcomed their two daughters, Cynthia Marie and Cheryl Bernice.
Bernice was a self-taught seamstress. She busied herself making all her own drapery and clothing while spoiling her girls with new handmade dresses, coats and bonnets for every occasion. In addition, their Barbies were kept in style with handmade doll clothes. No piece of fabric bypassed her creativity! Every stitch of bought clothing she had was not right until remade and tailored to perfection by her. She could mend and fix anything! She maintained this skill as well as knitting and crocheting to this very day leaving behind a project she has still to complete.
In 1965, the family moved to Saskatoon and Bernice held her first job outside the home as a seamstress for a men’s retail store.
The family moved to Canora in 1967 and Bernice has been a contributing member of the community ever since.
It was in Canora where they welcomed their son, Darren William Zatwarnitski and Bernice’s life was fulfilled. Bernice did not let her sewing skills rest when Darren was born as he was treated to handmade little suits and shirts. She undertook every activity with Darren she could making it possible for him to go golfing, fishing, dirt biking, snowmobiling and hockey, hockey and more hockey. She was engaged in every activity with him. Bernice was an involved, proud Mother wanting to offer her children what she could. She planned birthdays and holidays and made everything good for her kids, which she did with an unending supply of unconditional love.
Bernice continued to work outside the home in Canora and in 1971 she became the owner operator of the Sears Catalogue Office in Canora serving the people in the community and surrounding area for 24 years.
Bernice was a meticulous housekeeper and her children called her the “Master Cleaner.” She was a firm believer in the quality of the Electrolux vacuum which led to her to becoming an Agent in the area. That allowed her to find her way into many homes where she made many new lifelong friends and has remained the local Agent to this day.
Retirement was not in her vocabulary and after closing Sears in 1995, she busied herself with many other jobs including Electrolux Sales – Yorkton office, Chester Fried Chicken, Spiritwood Acres Golf and Country Club, cleaning for the Canora Sr. Housing and her infamous annual garage sales. Until recently, Bernice held her beloved weekly job at the Canora Courier which she treasured. In February 2020, on her last visit home, she handed over her duties with the hopes she would get well enough to return.
Bernice was a member of the Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canora since 1967 and loved her Church. She helped where and when she could, making perogies and serving at various lunches and events and was a loved and valued member of her Church community.
Never being far from her faith in prayer, she taught her children how to pray in both Ukrainian and English and gave them the strong foundation of faith which they stand on today. Bernice’s Dad would tell her “if you pray to the Virgin Mary, she will never ever leave you”. On the last day of her life, Bernice did not forget to pray and lead her family in prayer throughout the day. A beautiful symbol of a loving faithful servant.
Bernice’s greatest treasure was her three precious children. They were her purpose and her reason for everything she did. Bernice leaves a legacy of strength, determination, love and faith they will treasure in their hearts forever.
In the last two months Bernice was together with all her children and you could not have found her more proud, safe and content than these last days surrounded by her family.
Bernice will be remembered for her hard work, determination, kindness and handing out compliments anytime she could. She had a kind word for everyone, and her door was always open. She would share a meal, vegetables from her garden, lend an ear or a shoulder and helping hand in any way she could. She prayed humbly and gave generously. She knew everyone and everyone in the community knew her. She had a strength and determination that lead her family through every challenge they faced and was the ROCK and FOUNDATION of her loving family. She was admired by so many and loved by all. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Bernice is predeceased by her parents, Mike and Minnie Karapita; in-laws, Fred and Rose Zatwarnitski; husband, William Zatwarnitski; sister, Marcelle (Mike) Hiduk; brothers, Frank (Adella) Karapita and Adolph Karapita; sister-in-law, Rose Thompson; brothers-in-law, John Zatwarnitski and Romaine Borys; and nephews, Michael Karapita and Allan Zatwarnitski.
Bernice is survived by her three loving children, Cynthia, Cheryl and Darren Zatwarnitski; and sisters-in-law, Jeanette Karapita, Marie Borys, and Adella Zatwarnitski; along with many cherished nieces and nephews and a loving community of precious friends.
In Bernice’s honour, a Visitation will be held from 7:00-9:00 p.m., Monday, March 30, 2020 and a Private Funeral Service celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 31, 2020, both from the Chapel of Leson’s Funeral Home, Canora, SK, with Very Rev. Fr. J. Rac as Celebrant. A Private Rite of Committal will follow at the Canora Cemetery. A Public Funeral Liturgy and Reception will be announced at a later date. Those wishing to make expressions of sympathy may make donations to the Sts. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church – Building Fund, as tokens of remembrance, in memory of Bernice Zatwarnitski.
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2020
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Bernice Zatwarnitski 2020..
Décès pour la Ville: Canora, Province: Saskatchewan