Mrs. Mary Karcha, wife of the late Gordon Karcha, of the Lady Lake District, passed away on Friday, January 5, 2024. She was 83 years of age.   

Mary Annie Karcha was born on July 29, 1940 on the family farm at Section 28-36-04W2, to parents Wasyl and Alice Strijack. Mary had four brothers – Nick, Victor, David and Georgie, and two sisters – Helen Schotts and Evelyn Wardle.

Mary attended Brookview school up to grade eight. After leaving school she went to work for a few families in the area.

Mary met Gordon Karcha through her brother David, and from there a romance began. Mary and Gordon were married on November 4, 1957 in Preeceville, Saskatchewan. They shared a life together until Gordon’s passing on February 2, 2000. They made their home on the family farm in the district of Lady Lake, Saskatchewan, which Gordon purchased from his father. Mary was blessed with 9 children, Beverly, Harvey, Dale, Leroy, Karen, Brenda, Kevin, Jason, and Stacy.

Mary farmed alongside her husband. Besides grain farming, she raised cows, sheep, chickens, geese, pigs, and other various animals. She also sheared the sheep and carted the wool to use later. She made quilts, feather pillows, rugs, butter, soap, cottage cheese, and cream. She found time to crochet, knit scarves, mitts, toques, and socks, do needlepoint, and fabric oil painting.

Living on the farm, Mary developed a deep-rooted connection to the land and a strong work ethic that she would later pass down to her children. She enjoyed gardening and this was evident in the huge vegetable garden that she would plant and share year after year, even up until the end of the last growing season. She loved to preserve the vegetables she grew in her garden, and was always willing to give away a jar of pickles when someone asked.

Mary was kind and generous, and her home was always open to family and friends. Whether it be for a cup of coffee, a meal, or a place to stay. She especially enjoyed when her grandchildren came to visit her. She loved animals and her home was a haven for pets.

She enjoyed watching the Olympics, hockey, curling, baseball, and football. She was a huge fan of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Toronto Maple Leafs. She was president of the St. Demetrius Church and Cemetery at Lady Lake, Saskatchewan.

Mary was predeceased by her husband Gordon; son-in-law, Wallace Goulden; parents, Wasyl and Alice Strijack, and her siblings, Victor, Nick, David, Georgie, Helen, and Evelyn.

She is survived by her children, Bev (Frank) Constant, Harvey (Janice) Karcha, Dale Karcha, Leroy Karcha, Karen Runions, Brenda Goulden, Kevin Karcha, Jason (Pam) Karcha, and Stacy Karcha; her grandchildren, Stephanie Karcha, TJ Constant (Kristen), Tracy (Connor) Schappert, Foster (Vickie) Karcha, Nathan Karcha, Shondell Karcha, Brandin Runions, Ian Runions, Jody (Melissa) Runions, Nicole (Taos) Deane, Darcie Goulden (Elmer), Jesse Karcha, Kailey Karcha, Alyssa Karcha, Kaitlyn Karcha, as well as 7 great-grandchildren.

The funeral service was held on Saturday, January 13, 2024, from Trinity United Church, in Preeceville, with Reverend David Mugadzi officiating. Tributes were given by Brenda Goulden, Kailey Karcha, and Alyssa Karcha. Interment followed in the St. Demetrius Cemetery, east of Lady Lake, with Darcie Goulden, Nicole Deane, Jesse Karcha, Kailey Karcha, Ian Runions and Jody Runions serving as casket-bearers.                                

Memorial donations may be made to St. Demetrius Cemetery c/o Duane Karcha, Box 895, Preeceville, SK, S0A 3B0, as gifts of remembrance.