Date of Birth: August 8, 1964
Date of Death: January 2, 2017
Monica Douhaniuk passed away suddenly at her residence in Regina on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017 at 52 years of age.
Monica Anne was born on Aug. 8, 1964 in Melville, Sask. to John and Ida (Bogdan) Douhaniuk, the sixth of seven children. She was raised on the family farm five miles south of Killaly and moved to the village of Killaly with her parents when they built their new home in 1983. She attended Grades 1 to 9 at Killaly School and Grades 10 to 12 at Melville Comprehensive School.
In her youth, Monica was involved in 4-H and Army Cadets, where she also enjoyed the benefits of attending cadet summer camps, which took her to various camps in other provinces. She also did a stint in the militia upon high school graduation. Monica played baseball and broomball, and she curled, which she continued when moving to Regina.She took part in any sport that a youngster growing up on a farm near a small town offered.
Monica was very much a tomboy and was not afraid to do anything that her older brothers could do; she loved to be out chasing cattle, milking cows, butchering chickens, hauling bales and combining. She loved coming home from Regina to help Mervin and Morris with the annual branding of the cattle every spring.
Upon graduation from high school, Monica found employment waitressing at the Classic Inn in Melville. She then decided to try moving to a larger centre and moved to Saskatoon where she became a salesperson of household gadgets. When she realized that this would not be a great career move (or money- maker), she decided to make her permanent home in Regina. With having grown up on the farm, Monica developed a great love for animals. As a result, she even did a bit of a stint working and living on a farm outside of Regina helping with the cattle, which took her back to her roots.
Monica became a homeowner shortly after moving back into the city of Regina. She quickly adopted a dog who she sadly had to give away when she sold her house and moved into an apartment where pets were not allowed. But as soon as she once again became a homeowner, she immediately adopted the first of three Pomeranians that quickly became her “babies.”
April 19, 1989 was an especially memorable day when Monica became an aunt to twin nieces, April and Anna Rogalski, and later in the day found out that she had gained employment with Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region, an employer she remained with right up until her passing. She worked at all the Regina hospitals over the years in various positions from housekeeping to kitchen and security. Most recently, she was working security in the parking division based out of the Regina General Hospital and was looking forward to retiring in a couple of years. When Monica first started at the health district, it was not full-time employment, so she supplemented her income by working at Joey’s Only. She also worked at Evraz Place for socialization purposes in various food venues for the last few years and dabbled in sales, being known for selling Regal products, Essential Oils and almost anything that would pique her interest, but also being products in which she believed.
Monica had a great love for her beloved Saskatchewan Roughriders. She volunteered doing ticket sales at their home
games and was fortunate enough to work the Grey Cup game and experience the win in 2013 when the Riders won it all.
The Terry Fox Foundation was very special to her heart because she had melanoma in her early 20s and felt very blessed to have fought that battle and won. Therefore, she volunteered faithfully at the Terry Fox Run every September and was also on the organizing committee when her health permitted.
Monica had a variety of hobbies, ranging from doing word searches and reading the Leader-Post daily, to having a great love for books (she always had a book on the go) and creating beautiful works of art with her plastic canvas and cross-stitch in her earlier days. In the summers, Monica looked forward to camping with her brother and his wife and the puppies. She welcomed any friends to join them to enjoy time around the campfire. This year was an especially memorable one when she caught her first fish. Monica had a great love of water and looked forward to swimming in her backyard pool and going hottubbing while visiting her sister and her husband and their family.
She also enjoyed going for rides on her motorbike. Every day before work, Monica would get up early and go for coffee with her buddy to A&W before heading in to do her shift. This was something she really enjoyed before the start of her work day, as she was a very sociable person.
Monica enjoyed travelling. When she was in her 20s, she went on a trip to Mazatlan, Mexico with a group of girlfriends. In 2014, the year she turned 50, Monica won a trip to St. Lucia through Curves. Even with her health conditions, she still strived to be fit and healthy. Her buddy, Graham Russell, was her companion for this trip. She also enjoyed mini vacations to Minot with her family.
Monica was a hard-working, gentle, kind, peace-loving soul who had a great love of family — all her nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews meant the world to her, and she tried to attend as many family functions from births, baptisms, sporting events and graduations, to weddings and family reunions whenever possible. Monica always had a smile on her face when she was spending time with her family; she was a proud aunt and great-aunt who loved sharing stories about them with friends.
Predeceased by two of her furbabies, Buddy and Ricco, Monica is survived by her puppy, Xena, and her cat, Suki.
She was predeceased by her mother, Ida, in January, 1996; her father, John in July, 1999; and her infant brother, Mark, in October, 1956.
Monica will be sadly missed by her brothers, Ralph (Verna), Mervin (Robbie) and Morris (Donna); and her sisters, Yvonne (Vaughn) Rogalski and Lisa (Marcelle) Leik; as well as 18 nephews and nieces, five great-nephews and great-nieces; and her long-time roommate and friend, Murray Andrews.
The vigil service was held on Friday, Jan. 6, 2017 and mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017 with Father Thomas Mutavanattu of St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church in Killaly celebrating both services.
Active pallbearers were Monica’s nieces, Kristina Venning and Kaylee Dolha; her nephews, Ian Douhaniuk, Dennis Douhaniuk and Dexter Douhaniuk; and her long-time roommate and friend, Murray Andrews. Interment of her ashes will be held at a later date in Mariahilf Cemetery.
Arrangements were entrusted to Matthews Funeral Home, Melville.
