Mary Florence Dzuba September 11, 1925 - March 25, 2012 Mary Florence Dzuba peacefully passed away on Sunday, March 25, 2012, in Estevan at the age of 86 years. Mary was born in 1925, in what was then known as Prospect, in the Pinto District of the Souris Valley east of Roche Percee. She lived there until the Prospect Mine closed down, then her family moved to the Hawkenson Mine for a short while until the Prospect Mine reopened, and then her family moved back to Prospect. She was the fifth child of eight children born to Johann and Martha Kolenz. She went to school at Taylorton, after attending M&S School for a short while. Once she left school, she found jobs - often cooking for farm harvesters in various locations until she began working and cooking at the boarding house in Prospect, and then later at the boarding house at Western Dominion Mine. In 1944, Sam and Mary were married; they have been married for 67 years. Sam and Mary lived at Sam's parents for a few months, until they moved to live at the Taylorton Store when Sam began working for the Western Dominion Mine. Then they lived at Bank's mine for a year before moving to the Briquette Plant. Through these moves, they had started a family: Dwain then Val, Lee then Jack, and finally Dallas. In 1965, they moved to their current location. Mary started working as a cook's helper at the Bienfait hospital to help with expenses. She worked there until 1972, when she retired. Children were growing up, moving on with their lives, getting married and having children. Mary became a grandmother many times over, and later, she was great-grandma. Mary loved visiting with friends and family, playing cards, and enjoying various pastimes such as bingo and ceramics. They had a cabin at Kenosee Lake for a few years, when the lake was high and the fishing was plentiful. Sam and Mary later began camping and travelled to many lakes in northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Mary's love of nature continued throughout her life, from growing up and living in the valley to the regular drives through the valley Sam and Mary made to see what wildlife was around and the changes brought on by the passing of time. They enjoyed the many songbirds that return to their yard in the spring and mark the passing of time. Mary was a hard worker all her life and instilled that work ethic in her children. She had strong values and felt that family was most important. She was proud of her own mother and father and the life they made for themselves, as she was of her own children. She was the tie that bound the family together. Mary will be missed by all. Mary is survived by her loving husband, Sam, Bienfait; sons, Dwain (Pat), Roche Percee, Lee (Bernice), Estevan, Jack, Bienfait, Dallas (Lori), Bienfait, and daughter, Valery (George) Kirbyson, Surrey, B.C.; sister, Edith Panteluk, Estevan, 14 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Johann and Martha Kolenz; brothers, John, Frank and Victor; sisters, Ella Kolenz, Gertrude Graham and Joyce Kolenz; daughter-in-law, Janet Dzuba. Funeral Service was held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 30, in St. Paul's United Church, Estevan with Rev. Brenna Nickel officiating. Interment followed in the Bienfait Cemetery. If friends so desire, donations may be given to The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan in memory of Mary Dzuba. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Hall Funeral Services, Estevan. Thank You The family would like to thank the staff of St. Joseph's Hospital for Mary's care during recent months. Thank you to the staff of Hall Funeral Services and Reverend Brenna Nickel of St. Paul's United Church for their support during this difficult time. Thank you to all those who helped at the Bienfait Legion for the lovely luncheon. Also, thank you to all friends and relatives for their thoughtful expressions of sympathy and support. - From the family of Mary Dzuba.
