Date of Birth: December 8, 1944
Date of Death: April 14, 2019
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Laraine Jean Gelowitz, who passed away peacefully, with her family by her side, on Sunday April 14, 2019 after a brief battle with cancer.
Laraine was born in Melville on Dec. 8, 1944. She was the second child of Art and Eloise Unterschute. She was educated in Melville, and after graduating, worked at several jobs in both Melville and Regina before meeting the love of her life, and settling down on the family farm near Grayson.
Laraine married Theodore (Teddy) Gelowitz on April 16, 1966 and they raised their six children together: Wesley, Glen, Lorie, Ruth, Tony and Kathy. In 1979,
Ted & Laraine decided to sell their farm and they moved into Grayson and purchased Grayson Hardware Ltd., which is the business she ran for the next 40 years. What initially started as a small hardware store, became the local movie rental outlet, Sask. Lotteries, fishing licences, STC Bus depot and SGI license Issuing agency.
Treating people fairly and following the Golden Rule was important to them and demonstrated through their generosity to their customers and neighbours.
In addition to her business activities, Laraine was an active member of St. Mary’s Parish council and was trained to be a lay minister. She was a member of the Polka Dot Players, Grayson Parks & Rec., Grayson Minor Sports and the Grayson Old Tyme Polka Festival. She was always eager to help others. She was a selfless woman who regularly expressed more concern for others than she had for herself and was the most non-judgemental person we knew.
Laraine set a wonderful example for her children and the whole community as to how to be a good Christian, good friend, wonderful mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and a community leader. She always had a smile on her face, and had an infectious laugh that she loved to share. She also had a strong faith in God, and sincere dedication to family, and was proud to tell her children that it was these things that would get them through the good times and the bad. She taught us all the importance of family and community, and this was truly evident in the love and support that was returned to her from all her family and friends during her final days.
In lieu of flowers we encourage donations to the Palliative Care Units in both the St. Peter’s Hospital in Melville and the Pasqua Hospital in Regina in Laraine’s memory.
Laraine leaves to mourn her children; Wesley (Brenda), Glen (Kim), Ruth (Gary), Tony (Pam) and son in law Kelvin, as well as 14 grandchildren, four great -grandchildren, with two more on the way.
Prayers will be held on Monday April 29 at 7 p.m. and Funeral Mass at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30 both at St. Mary’s Church, Grayson.
Arrangements were by Bailey’s Funeral and Cremation Care, Melville.
