LIPINSKI: In Loving Memory of Katie Lipinski who was born April 20, 1916 at Whitkow, SK and passed away Sept. 21, 2013 at North Battleford, SK. Left to cherish her memory: her daughter, Vivian (Wes) Biddle; daughters-in-law: Ellen and Sylvia; grandchildren: Pat, Doug, Carol, Sandra, Barb, Cameron, Laura, Warner, Paula; 16 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren; sister, Helen; brother, Walter and numerous other relatives. Katie was predeceased by her parents, Les & Mary Pidwerbeski; her husband, Nick; sons, Terry and Peter; grandson, Darren; siblings: Mary, Bessie, Dick, Bill, Annie, Julia, Joe and Pauline. Service of Thanksgiving for Katie's Life was held Friday, Sept. 27, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. from "The Garden Chapel" ~ Battlefords Funeral Service, North Battleford, SK with Rev. Fred J. Tinio officiating. Shared Memories were given by Sandra Lazar & Pat Mills ~ Granddaughters and Reading by Barb Maruschak ~ Granddaughter. Music Ministry was by Organist, Glenn Goodman; Soloist, Robert MacKay ~ "The Lord's Prayer" and "Green, Green Grass of Home" and Hymn Selections "Just As I Am", "Borning Cry" and "Here I Am, Lord". The Pallbearers were Cameron Lipinski, Phil Holick, Doug Lipinski, Gordon Pidwerbeski, Kevin Fitzsimmons and Dale Anderson. Memorials are requested to North Battleford Senior Citizens Action Now, 1501 - 101st St, North Battleford, SK S9A 1A3 and Villa Pascal, 1301 - 113th St, North Battleford, SK S9A 3K1. Interment took place at City Cemetery, North Battleford, SK. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Battlefords Funeral Service. 306-446-4200. Shared Memories Katrina Pidwerbeski was born at Redfield in April of 1916into a family of nine children..Kate and Nick met when he worked as farm labourer on her father's farmA friendship flourished / and the couple married in November of 1932. They homesteaded six miles southeast of Alticane. Nick and Katie struggled through the first winter in a renovated and insulated granaryThe next year, they built a two-room log and mud housealong with a barn and chicken coopTerry was born that year in August of 1933. Poor land initiated another move in the sprint of 1938..This move was to be their last..on highway 40, 10 miles N.E. of North Battleford - The Forest Hall DistrictVivian was born August of 1938and the youngest Peter in Nov, 1943. It is difficult to put into words how much Baba meant to her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. I feel so fortunate and honored to have had her in my life for 51 years, and her life, indeed, is something to be celebrated and emulated. She was strong-willed, she was intelligent, she spoke her mind, but always to me, was a kind, caring woman. She was a very successful homemaker and farmer, a loving wife, mother and mother-in-law and a cherished grandmother to her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, a talented seamstress, gardener and a fantastic cook and baker. In her 97 years, she experienced and achieved a lot in her life, and she was the best Baba or grandma anyone could ever hope to have. As in life there were hardships and disappointments through her 97 years, but Baba managed to live a positive, fruitful life through the tough times and the periods of loss and grief, that life often gives us. Through time, love, and living by good example, she passed a lot of wisdom down to her children and grandchildren - we learned that working hard didn't kill you, and in fact, made you strong and capable. We always knew that when we went for our summer holidays at the farm that we expected to work and help out, but at the end of a long day, we could look forward to something special, like a wiener roast in the trees or a great meal. There were wonderful memories of group weedings in the gardenthen, the picking and processing of vegetables in the fallof holly hocks she loved, planted around the houseavoiding yellow jacket wasps while rock picking in the fieldstaking the washing off the cloths line in the winterher strong, encouraging words to get back into the chicken coop and to stand up to those hens while gathering eggsare all memories we treasure nownot fully appreciating the opportunity we had been given at the time. Many of our oldest memories were etched in the warm atmosphere of her kitchena meeting place for the family and friends while sampling her incredible cookingwe watchedand learned how to cook Ukrainian dishes with her, like borscht, Holubtsi, Pedeheh with the best mushroom sauce ever, kolache and nalisniki. Baba took great pride in her cookingand even if you had her recipe and technique down patsomehow it just didn't taste the same. We soon found that LARD, was usually her secret ingredient!...and after turning a 3rd or 4th helping of one of her meals, she woud still be known to say , "What, you don't like my food?" "Eeeat! EEEEat!" Baba was a self-taught seamstress whom achieved a professional level in her craftshe was incredibly thriftysaving every scrap of material from other sewing jobs..designin matching shirts and dresses for all the grandchildrenThere was definitely No mistaking who we belonged to! Kate was a shrewd Kaiser playerand as her partner..you had to be focused in the extreme, or she'd give you heck when you threw down a card that you shouldn't have! Baba came from a generation and a nationality that prided itself on a hard work ethic, family relationships, and good food! Like my Mom, Ellen Lipinski, her daughter-in-law said, Baba worked as hard as any man. As Baba and Gido's farming became more successful, I remember the stylish clothes and jewellery and hats she wore when we made the trip to North Battleford on a Saturday afternoon, when Gido was still alive. She definitely had a sense of style and in one of my last times with her, in her brief moments of alertness, she noted quietly that she liked what I was wearing. She liked colors and sparkly things, and I picked the outfit and jewellery I wearing today knowing that Baba would like it. Gido died in January of 1975Baba lost her husband..her partner in lifeand later that summer she made the move to the house she and Nick picked out together109th Street in North Battlefordshe kept busy bowling, sewing, gardening and playing more cards! She proudly received a hard earned driver's license in her early 60'sand could be seen cruising aroundin her limited edition..cherry red 64 Chevy Impala SS..She loved picking up and chauffeuring "the older ladies!" to the Leisure Centre to play cardsor down to the Co-op or to a Chinese restaurant for her favourite..egg rolls (which she wrapped up in napkins and put in her purse for later)! As I live and work in Saskatoon, I didn't get to spend as much time with her as I would have liked, which makes me sad. And I'd like to really thank my mom, Ellen Lipinski, for her regular visits to Baba, as it made all of us kids feel better knowing that our mom was there with her when we couldn't be. But even though our time together was limited, and no matter where she lived, she made us feel loved, welcomed with open arms and kisses, and respect - whether it was at her house on 109th street where she lived as a widow for many years after Gido's passing in 1975 or at her little seniors apartment at the Senior's Highrise, where she shared her outings and visits with her buddy and sister-in-law, Marie Pidwerbeski, or at Villa Pascal Senior's home where she was taken such good care of till her last days - wherever she was, she made you feel at home, because her home was your home..always. No matter what situation Kate was presented with she seemed to overcome and be stronger for itBy example, she inspired us encompass life lessons and dance in the raintaught us that no matter what happens in life move forward with a kind heart and present your genuine self with others. Baba was Baba, making no bones about who she was or what she thoughtand would at times, display a wicked sense of humour. To live life caring for the people close to you, to work hard and live a life of integrity and be a genuine person, with some laughter and humour thrown in along the way, are lessons we have learned from Baba that we will remember, honour and live by. Card of Thanks We the relatives of Mrs. Katie Lipinski would like to thank Ellen Lipinski daughter-in-law to Auntie Katie for looking after her for us for so many years. All of the Pidwerbeski Family appreciate it very much. Ellen you and your family did all you could for her which we couldn't. You were her angel and she loved and enjoyed you and your family all these years. You were like a daughter to her. Again we Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. I am sure I speak for all of us. Thank you Phil and Susan Holick _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
