It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Marie Smith (formerly of Wynyard) at St. Paul Lutheran Home in Melville on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022.
Marie was born on Jan.18, 1921 in a farm house south of Wynyard, Sask. She attended the East Lynne School, which was 2.5 miles away from her home. A few years later the dust bowl years of the 1930s commenced. At age 16 Marie left school and began working as domestic help for a number of different families.
In May 1942 Marie married Leonard Smith. By this time WWII was in full swing. Leonard was called for military service and between his training and overseas duties they actually were not able to spend much time together.
After the war Marie and Leonard started their life together as farmers. Their hard work through the years resulted in a successful small mixed farm that was quite self-sufficient. The cattle, chickens and pigs provided the meat, milk, cream and butter, while the garden, raspberry patch, crab apple tree and wild Saskatoon, pincherry and chokecherry trees supplied a year’s worth of food. They had no supply chain problems because most of the supply was within a minute’s walk of their front door.
In addition to raising six children, keeping house and tending garden, she knitted and sewed clothes for herself, her family and even some neighbors. She was very creative and did some painting as well as producing many beautiful ceramic pieces. Marie was an avid reader. Her interests included the natural world, history, genealogy and archeology. Her love of reading and learning stayed with her until her final days.
Marie eventually worked for Sunny Land Poultry Products, the Wynyard Hospital and Home Care. She was active with the Royal Canadian Legion and the Catholic Women’s League. Marie organized anniversary parties and wedding showers. She often created short skits for them and even found poems and songs and children to perform them. She was still volunteering her time well into her 80s.
Due to health issues, Marie moved to Melville in 2015 to be closer to family. Two years later she suffered a stroke and was admitted to St. Paul Lutheran Home. She rapidly settled in and soon called it her home. Marie especially enjoyed the activities they provided and loved to have visitors.
Marie was born in the horse and buggy era and saw the horses replaced by automobiles and tractors. She watched the first man to walk on the moon. She rode on jet planes and even a float plane and was on social media for a time. She was known as a kind, gentle and friendly person, a great example of a life well lived. She will be missed by many.
Marie’s mass was held on Friday, Oct. 14, 2022 at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Wynyard, officiated by Father Augustine Osel-Bonso, followed by internment at Pleasantview Cemetery, Wynyard, SK.
She is survived by her children: Marlene Sagan (Benny), Allan Smith (Kathy), Lynn Smith (Joanne), Doreen Smith (Brian), Laurel Cozart (Curtis); 13 grandchildren (Sheila Unruh, Charles (Buddy) Stafford, Shannon Schick (Doug), Kimberly Sagan (Aaron), Gary Sagan (Jackie), Terry Sagan (Crystal), Julia Smith (Ben), Pamela Grotkowski (Joel), Jennifer Wooster, Carol Wooster (Kyle Lafond), Colin Wooster, Adrien Cozart, and Darien Cozart); and 12 great-grandchildren (Alexander Unruh, Sasha Unruh, Devin Schick, Sidney Schick, Parker Read, Spenser Read, Samantha Sagan, Garret Sagan, Rachel Moore, Medina Wooster Lizalovic, Bryson Lafond and Dimitriy Grotkowski).
She was predeceased by her husband Leonard, daughter Ruth Stafford, parents Hormidas and Clara Dupont, brothers Emmanual and Nathaniel, and sister Rose DeBruyne.
The family wishes to thank Dr. van Zyl and the staff at St. Paul Lutheran Home for the excellent care Marie received. Thank you to all those who visited her and to everyone who sent flowers, cards and messages of condolences.
Arrangements were entrusted to Tompkins Funeral Home in Wadena.
