Date of Birth: March 9, 1929
Date of Death: May 7, 2026
It is with heavy hearts and immense gratitude that we say goodbye to Stefanie (Stella) Fulawka, our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend and neighbour. She passed away on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at the age of 97 and will be deeply missed by her family, friends and community.
Stella was born on March 9, 1929 in Dobrowody District, near Rama, SK, on the homestead of her parents, Maryan and Tekla (Pulak) Sliwa. She attended Lone Spruce School as a child. Growing up on their farm, she learned the value of hard work and acquired skills that would carry her through her whole life. As a young adult, she lived in Gimli, MB, working as a nurse’s aide, but eventually returned home where she met and married Stephen (Steve) Fulawka. Together they farmed his family’s land with their six children and made a life for themselves.
In the midst of Steve’s health struggles and financial difficulties on the farm, Stella took it upon herself to make a better life for her family. She found employment in Yorkton and after commuting for a few months, bought a home in the city and moved the family in 1979. About a year later, she found what she called her dream job, working as a nurse’s aide at the same facility where she would eventually spend the last few months of her life.
Stella’s life can be summed up in one word – dedication. Dedication to her faith, to her family, and to her work. She was a prominent member in the Dobrowody Church and later at St. Gerard’s in Yorkton. She was a fixture in the church choir, spent countless hours serving in the hall making perogies and cabbage rolls, helping with weddings and funerals and helping wherever she was needed, whenever she was asked. Stella was devoted to prayer and to the Virgin Mary, reciting the rosary daily and praying for anyone and everyone who came to mind. Her faith took her to pilgrimage sites in Poland, Rome, Medjugorje, Denver and to numerous sites across Saskatchewan.
She valued spending time with her many friends and relatives with whom she maintained regular contact. She enjoyed travelling, taking fun trips with her friends to the Watrous spa, to Vancouver and Victoria, to Toronto to visit relatives, to Winnipeg to visit her brother, and to Edmonton, Calgary and Saskatoon to visit her children. She had many talents, a few of which were canning, gardening, carting wool and making quilts, sewing her daughters’ dresses and suits, reupholstering furniture, and others, far too numerous to mention.
Stella’s love for her family was often shown through food. She loved preparing and serving her children’s and grandchildren’s favourite dishes. Bountiful holiday meals were a joy to be a part of and she never let anyone leave hungry.
Stella was predeceased by her husband, Steve, of nearly 60 years; her parents; her brothers Adolph (Jean), Louis (Ursula), Walter and Peter; and her sister Sr. Geraldine (Mary) OSB.
She leaves to mourn her sister-in-law, Violet (Peter) Sliwa; her children, Zita, Loretta, James, Patrick (Carla), Mervin (Tammy) and Rudy (Vickie); and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
The family would like to sincerely thank her doctor, Dr. A. Van Heerdan, all the staff at the Yorkton Hospital and the Yorkton District Nursing Home for the kindness, care and compassion they showed to Stella, especially over the past year.
The Prayer Vigil was held on Monday, May 11, 2026 from St. Gerard’s Roman Catholic Church, led by Deanna Pellatt. The lector was James Fulawka. The Funeral Mass was celebrated on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 from St. Gerard’s Roman Catholic Church with Rev. Fr. Andrzej Sowa, OMI as Celebrant, assisted by Deacon Wes Turton. The lectors were Zita Fulawka and Mervin Fulawka. General intercessions were delivered by Loretta Fulawka. The gift bearers were Lindsay and Lauren Connell. Words of remembrance were shared by Patrick Fulawka and Rudy Fulawka.
Stella’s children sang “Lord, You Have Come”. The interment followed in the Garden of Gethsemane, Yorkton Memorial Gardens with Adam Fulawka, Stephen Johannesson, Aaron Fulawka, Parker Fulawka, Brandon Wiebe and Peter Eaves serving as casket bearers. Memorials may be made to St. Gerard’s Roman Catholic Church, Yorkton, or to Operation Smile Canada as gifts of remembrance.
Condolences may be left for the family at www.baileysfuneralhome.com
