Date of Birth: November 1, 1930
Date of Death: August 23, 2022
Heaven gained a beautiful angel in the wee morning hours of Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022. Mary Theresa Sapara (Zaleski) was called upon to gain her beloved wings. She will dearly be missed by her family and friends.
Mary was born Nov. 1, 1930 in Regina, SK to Matthias and Apolonia (Hornung) Zaleski. Mary was their only child and their pride and joy. She married the love of her life, Wilbert Sapara Aug. 3 of 1948. Mary and Wilbert celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary before Wilbert’s passing in 2004. These 56 years were filled with an abundance of wonderful memories of the day to day as well as traveling across the world. Their life all began with Mary’s dream of having a large family. Mary was the main cheerleader and support of Wilbert’s entrepreneurial spirit and was a homemaker while raising their six children. She selflessly made sure everyone was taken care of. In the latter years after Wilbert’s passing, Mary filled her days with her family, friends and enjoying her newfound home in Caleb Village in Melville.
Mary’s passions of cooking delicious family dinners and spending time with her family and friends was always her top priority. Everyone always walked away with a full tummy and the anticipation of the next serving of her homemade meals and her delicious bite size cabbage rolls. Mary also had a passion for gardening (a green thumb like no other), needlepoint, crochet and playing cards. Her eye for fashion was always on point with a closet full of the latest trends.
Mary and Wilbert would always lend a helping hand in the community and their door was always open. Mary was also dedicated to her faith and spent 20 years volunteering as the sacristan of the St Elizabeth’s Parish in Killaly.
Predeceased by her husband Wilbert; father Matthias and mother Apolonia Zaleski; father-in- law John Sapara and mother-in-law Eva Sapara; brother-in-law Roy Matyas and sister-in-law Betty Matyas and her daughter-in-law Elaine Sapara. Mary will dearly be missed by her six children: Garth, Beryl (James), Frank (Mary Jane), Mervin (Maureen), Michelle (Dale) and John (Corinne); her 17 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
The funeral mass was celebrated on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. from St. Elizabeth’s Roman Catholic Church in Killaly, with Rev. Father john Mock as the celebrant.
Arrangements were by Bailey’s Funeral and Cremation Services, Melville.
