Obituary of Anne Darichuk

DARICHUK, Anne (nee Bandura) February 4, 1925 – June 25, 2024 On Tuesday, June 25, 2024, Anne Darichuk of Mundare, Alberta passed away peacefully at the age of 99 years. Anne is survived by her loving family, two daughters Lillian and Karrie; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; two sisters Doris Darichuk and Kathy (Jack) Barber; also fondly remembered by nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her husband William (Bill); son Dennis; daughter Christine; and her parents Mike and Mary; three brothers John (Edith), Steve (Angie) and Ed (Irene); three sisters Lucy (Stan) Milan, Helen (Lawrence) Milan and Laura (Doug) McTavish; two brothers-in-law George (Louise) Darichuk and Adam Darichuk; two sisters-in-law Betty (Everett) Gieseker and Jean (Sam) Widynowski. A public viewing will be held on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, from 2:00-5:00 p.m. at Autumn Rose Funeral Home where a prayer service will follow at 7:00 p.m. A private funeral service will be held at the St. Demetrius Russo-Greek Orthodox Church - Serediak’s with Fr. Alexios Surayev officiating. Interment to follow in the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the “St. Demetrius Russo-Greek Orthodox Church – Serediak’s” or to the charity of one’s choice. ****************************************************************************** Annie Darichuk (nee Bandura) Growing up in the Bandura rolling hills in Brosseau, Anne was the second oldest in a family of nine that included older brother John who always conned her to do his schoolwork, and then the rest of her siblings Lucy, Helen, Steve, Laura, Doris, Eddie, and Kathleen. Anne’s responsibilities were to help out on the farm. At school, she showed an early sense of autonomy and confidence. In fact her Grade 2 report card noted, “Annie thinks she knows too much.” She found her joy in nature walking to school and listening to birdsong. Throughout her life she would recite her favourite poems that she had memorized. And of course, she always enjoyed a good joke and had some fun - frightening the school boys with garter snakes. She started working out at the age of 14 with the Berlingette family who had the largest dairy farm in Alberta at the time. She prepared meals for all the hired workers there. One summer while stooking hay with her dad, she told him that she wanted to go to the new high school in Two Hills. In surprise he asked her why she would want to do such a thing; it was her mother who helped her relocate and attend high school where she graduated in 1943. During the war, she wanted to become a nurse. However, she was told that she couldn’t because she had flat feet! So after her graduation she went to Alberta College in Edmonton for her secretarial diploma. She supported herself working at the King Edward Hotel in the kitchen and was promoted to the dining room to waitress where the tips were good from the American service men passing through the Gateway to the North. It was there in Edmonton through mutual friends where she first encountered a certain shy and handsome young man with blue eyes named Bill who was working in the meat packing plant. As soon as she finished her college exams (except for short hand!) Anne landed a good job with the government. But duty called her back to the farm: her mother needed help with harvest. When Anne returned to Edmonton, her job had been filled by another. Then she worked as a bank teller with the new Alberta Treasury Branch in Andrew where she enjoyed her independence, making new friends, and volunteering. Going out in those days involved going to a movie or a dance. It was when she was selling tickets to a movie when Bill turned up in the movie line. They made fast friends and their courtship was followed by a proposal with a ring. Anne married Bill on June 15, 1946 in the Greek Orthodox Church in Vegreville that now stands in the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village. While Anne thought that she would continue to work in Andrew, it soon became clear that her marriage became a full-time working partnership on the farm. With the help of Bill’s parents, they bought Fedun’s farm adjacent to the Darichuk family farm. They started their family with the arrival of Lillian in 1947, Dennis in 1949, and Christine in 1951. Work on a mixed farm was made easier when they bought a truck and a tractor. So Anne had to learn to drive as a necessity, and sometimes the hard way. Life was busy, 24/7 farming and raising a family as it was for most neighbouring farm families. They were actively involved in 4H club as well as school sports for the kids. Just as Lillian was graduating and leaving home, the family grew a bit more with the arrival of Karrie in 1964. It was then that they were at another decision point when Bill’s parents were retiring and moving to the city. At that time Anne and Bill made plans to build a new house in 1964 where they remained until 2013. Over the years they planted many trees and bushes to develop the yard and with garden on three sides of the house -- it was a true retreat. For a number of years she provided gladioli for the Mundare fall graduations. Such a bountiful garden with strawberries, raspberries, highbush cranberry, cucumbers, potatoes, garlic, and flowers galore! Many visited and left with the fruits of her labour whether it was cottage cheese or the buckets of berries she had picked, but anyone who came was usually treated to a personal educational tour of the garden! But above all else she gave back to the earth as she composted, mulched, and chipped branches to build up the soil. The farm beautification award from the county was a source of pride hanging in the kitchen. As Karrie grew up, they scaled down daily chores and began to travel a bit. They visited family in Albuquerque for a wedding with a side trip to Las Vegas, toured Russia and Ukraine, Vancouver ‘86 Olympics, then in the years following, Puerto Vallarta, and Hawaii. Anne was someone who had a definite idea about how things ought to be. Her community activities included 4H club, Mundare Recreation Centre, and she was the Honoured Royal Lady (1967) of the inaugural Mundare Order of the Royal Purple, and later the Seniors Drop-in Centre. An advocate for sharing her knowledge and skills, she promoted organic gardening, community gardens and continuous improvement. Since she was a girl, “fancywork” was one of her hobbies and she taught classes how to weave and tat. Her hands were never idle. If she was in the garden she was barefoot in Dad’s rubber boots with a hoe, spade, or some other implement in hand. In winter, she knit and tatted, making things of practicality and fanciful whimsy. Admirably, she was self-taught in most everything. Up until 3 years ago she was still making tatted angels and snowflakes. As she approached her late 80’s her body was worn down. With the sudden illness and passing of Dennis in 2011, the liquidation and eventual sale of the farm, the illness and passing of Christine in 2014, and finally in 2017 the passing of Bill, her partner in life, it was her strength, resilience, and faith that brought her to her final years. From 2012 she spent 7 years in Father Filas Manor, then moved to Heritage House in Vegreville in 2019. After a serious fall and two month hospital stay she resided in Tofield Health Centre Auxiliary Long Term Care since early 2022. She made new friends everywhere she went and especially appreciated visits from family and old friends. At last, Anne may now rest peacefully with those who went before. Our family extends our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the nurses and staff for their warmth and kindness while she was in their care as a member of their community.