Alice Derow, beloved wife of the late of Clarence Derow passed away peacefully at Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon, SK, on December 31, 2017, at the age of 82 years. Alice (Oucharek) was born on March 17, 1935 in the Rhein/Dneiper area, north of Yorkton, SK, to Peter and Pauline (Filipchuk) Oucharek. She attended a one-room country school in Vionne for her elementary schooling, completed her Calder High School education, and received her diploma at the business college of Yorkton Collegiate Institute. Alice went on to work as a secretary and accountant, but it wasn't until after she met the love of her life that she worked with her beloved husband to open the family business Canora Agencies in 1961, in operation for over 50 years. Alice married Clarence Derow on October 10, 1959 at St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Yorkton, SK. They made their home in Canora, SK, where they raised seven children: Gwen, Myron, Marianne, David, Michael, Boris and Evan. Alice received the Honourary Life Member award for her work with the Ukrainian Catholic Women's League of Canada (UCWLC) in 2016, in recognition for her commitment at all levels of the organization (local, eparchial, and national). In 2008, she received the Nation Builders/Community Recognition Award from the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Saskatchewan Provincial Council, where she worked as the treasurer, as well as on numerous projects promoting the history of Ukrainian Canadians in Saskatchewan. Alice was a Life Member for Beta Sigma Phi and received her Golden Circle Certificate in 2012. She devoted her life to her family, both biological and spiritual, working tirelessly by sitting on countless committees planning special anniversary events for the town of Canora, church, UCWLC, and her children's abundant school projects. In 1992, Canora was chosen to host the 100th Anniversary of Ukrainian Immigration to Canada and Alice involved herself by serving on many committees to facilitate this celebration. Alice loved music and the arts being wholeheartedly involved in many Church choirs and performances throughout her life, including "The Mystery of the Passion of Christ," which she received a trophy for her 10 years' dedication for singing in the play. It was Alice's faith, kind heart, compassion, ethics and dedication to everything she put her heart and hands to, the wealth of information that she acquired throughout her life that is her legacy left behind. She leaves to mourn her passing and to cherish her memory, daughter, Gwen (Dave) Fedorowich and their children: Vincent, Michelle, Andrew, Larissa (Adrien Moufflet) and their daughter, Lila; son, Myron and his daughter, Michaela; daughter, Marianne; son, David; son, Michael (Kari) and their children, Arianna and Alexandra; son, Boris (Darcia) and their son, Dominic; and son, Evan (Melanie) and their children: Jessica, Magdalyn and Abigail; her sister Elsie (Kastalanych) Kohut and family; her brother Tony (Anne) Oucharek and family; her sister, Margaret (Nick) Antony and family; her brother, Victor (Phyllis) Kastalanych and family; her brother, Orest (Lorraine) Oucharek and family; her brother, Norman (Ann) Oucharek and family; her brother, Albert (Pat) Oucharek and family; and her sister-in-law, Carol (Furman) Derow and family. Alice was predeceased by her parents Peter and Pauline; step-mother Mary (Kastalanych) Oucharek; her husband, Clarence; and her parent-in-law, Michael and Magdalyn (Shumay) Derow. Recitation of the Rosary began at 6:30 pm, followed by a Prayer Service on Thursday, January 4, 2018 at 7:00 P.M. Funeral Liturgy was celebrated on Friday, January 5, 2018 at 10:00 am. Both services were celebrated from Sts. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, Canora, with Bishop Bryan Bayda, CSsR and Very Rev. Fr. Joakim Rac, as Celebrants. Rite of Committal followed in the Canora Cemetery. Those wishing to make expressions of sympathy may make donations to the Sts. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church - Building Fund (c/o PO Box 1137, Canora, SK S0A 0L0) or to St. Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Camps of Saskatchewan (c/o PO Box 128, Kamsack, SK S0A 1S0 or etransfer [email protected]), as tokens of remembrance, in memory of Alice Derow. Family and friends unable to attend are invited to sign an on-line guest book for Alice at www.lesonsfuneralhome.ca. Arrangements were entrusted to LESON'S FUNERAL HOME, Canora.
