Alvina "Winnie" Fink

Fink, Alvina “Winnie”

It is with deep sadness that we tell you that Alvina “Winnie” Fink of Saskatoon passed away on September 29, 2020 at the age of 90 years. She is survived by her daughters Joanne Blythe (Russ Frith), their children Mason and Emily; Deborah Newlyn; Arlene Fink; Valerie (Dave) Tataryn, their son Neil Fink (Julia Ferguson), their son Euan; and son Larry Fink; her sisters Mary Koczka, and Brigetta (Bob) Bodnarchuk, and brothers Peter and Ben (Jan) Brecht, as well as many nephews, nieces, grandnieces and grandnephews. She was predeceased by her husband Joe, her parents John and Monica Brecht, sisters Madeline, Anne, and Theresa and brothers Nicholas, Wendel, George, Philip, and Johnnie.

Winnie was born at home on the farm on January 5, 1930. Her father trudged through the wind and snow to register her birth in Viscount nine miles away. She went to school at Auckland and Lucasville country schools. When she left school after Grade 8 (she loved school and was sad to leave) she worked as a hired girl for neighbours and later moved to Saskatoon where she worked in the cafeteria at Intercontinental Packers. Winnie met Joe Fink at a local sports day, and they were married on June 12, 1950. They farmed in the Plunkett district for 43 years, where they were involved in the community, mom being a 4-H Leader for many years.  Once the children left home, she worked for a number of summers at Camp Easter Seal in the laundry. Later she worked as a dietary aide at Lanigan Union Hospital. Winnie and Joe retired and moved to Saskatoon in 1993. In June 2000 they celebrated their 50th Anniversary.

People knew her as a kind, friendly and neighbourly person. When we’d visit our Aunt Theresa at the bank in Humboldt it would take us forever just to walk a block because we kept meeting people Mom knew, and at least half of them were her cousins. When she moved to Saskatoon, she soon knew everyone in the building where she lived and still had many friends from back home. When she was on the farm she curled; in the city she bowled and played bingo. She loved playing cards with her sisters Mary, Madeline and Brigetta, laughing and cackling late into the night. She enjoyed having get-togethers with her family, spending lots of time with her grandchildren – all the way from the farm to the Market Mall.

Winnie was an avid reader throughout her life, and an avid CBC radio listener - Peter Gzowski on Morningside, As It Happens in the evenings, and early on, the hockey broadcast on Saturday night. She loved listening to Nana Mouskouri sing and watching the Riverdance. The Abba song, I Believe in Angels, was one of her favourites.

She was wicked smart and didn’t know it. At times she would make remarks that were startling in their insight. She hated housework and loved gardening. Most of us inherited her hatred of housework. Must be in the genes. She loved baking though and was really good at it. (Flapper pie anyone?) She didn’t get to travel until she was in her forties and when she did, she loved it – down east, out west, down south, up north by car, train, and plane.

Life was not always easy for her in her later years, especially after Dad died; yet we often felt the warmth from the spark of her old humour and wit resurfacing, sometimes when we least expected it.

We will miss you Mom, Granny, GG. 

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the staff at Central Haven Special Care Home in Saskatoon, where Winnie has lived for the past ten years, for their compassionate and loving care. We are forever grateful to you for making her part of your family.  There will be no funeral service at this time.

In lieu of flowers we encourage people to make donations in Winnie’s memory to a charity of their choice. Arrangements in care of Ashley Knash - Mourning Glory Funeral Services (306) 978-5200.