Obituary
In the early hours of April 6, 2020, Nina Wentworth of St. Walburg, SK. passed away peacefully at Lady Minto Health Care Centre in Edam, at the age of 92. Nina was born June 25, 1927, in the village of Harucha, Ukraine to John and Vera Onischuk. Within a year of his marriage, John left to seek his fortune in Canada. Vera and 12-year-old Nina followed in 1939, leaving in one of the last ships from Europe before WW2.
Nina’s first home in Canada was in Hollow Lake, AB. Two years, later, the family moved to Plamondon, AB. where they owned a mink ranch. Nina, who was fluent in both Russian and Polish languages, attended a French school and learned to speak both French and English. She caught on quickly and accelerated through her grades to grade 10. During this time, Nina’s father was away working other jobs. So before school, Nina would row her homemade boat out into Lac la Biche to set the fishnets to feed the mink, then walk five miles to school. The process was reversed at the end of the day.
Nine fell in love with a handsome neighbour named Phil Acey Wentworth, who used to sell rabbits to the Onischuk’s for the mink ranch. At just 18 years old, Nina knew that Phil was the one, and in February 1946, they were married. For the first few weeks, they lived in a tent. Later they bought a house in Athabasca, AB. In 1951, Phil started working for the CNR which moved them to several communities before settling in Lashburn, SK. It was here that they raised their three cherished children, Susan, Gordon, and Tony.
After 35 years on the CNR, Phil retired, which allowed Phil and Nina to fulfill their dream of owning and operating a farm. They moved onto three-quarters of land located three miles from Turtle Lake and made it a successful operation for the next eleven years. Nina made her home in St. Walburg in 1994 after Phil passed away a year earlier. There was never a conversation without her mentioning Phil. Even after all the years since his passing, he was always in her thoughts. She loved him very deeply.
Nina was an intelligent, independent, hardworking woman for whom family came first. She is remembered as a loving and self-sacrificing mother and wife who always put the needs of her family before her own. Nina had a deep belief in truth, honesty and fair ethical treatment of others. Nina was vivacious, friendly and could talk to anyone whether she knew them or not. Her sense of dignity and strength of character were always evident.
Nina lived a truthful and honest life. She believed in and had a broad knowledge and experience of Christianity, having been born in the Greek Orthodox faith, attending a French Catholic school, marrying in the Anglican Church, and practicing her faith in the United Church.
Nina is predeceased by: her husband, Phil; her son, Tony; her parents, John and Vera; and her brother, John.
She is survived by: her daughter, Susan (Merv) Pentelichuk; her son, Gordon (Joan) Wentworth; her grandchildren, Tanya Pentelichuk, Morgan (Terri) Pentelichuk, Natasha (Blair) Wicks, Breanna (Jeff) Vidal, Chelsea (Tyler) Amundsen, Mitchel Wentworth (Maren Neilson), Nadia (Darryl) Short, and Danny (Dixie) Wentworth. Each of Nina’s children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren had a special place in her heart.
Nina’s wit and wisdom were a blessing to all who knew her.
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Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Nina Onischuk Wentworth June 25 1927 April 6 2020 (age 92)..
Décès pour la Ville: ST-WALBURG, Province: Saskatchewan