Patricia (PAT) Anne (Russell) Pavelich
August 9, 1936 – February 15, 2014
The family is saddened to announce the peaceful passing of Mother and Grandmother Pat Pavelich on February 15, 2014 at Davidson Health Centre.
Pat was survived by her husband of 54 years Vincent Pavelich; daughters: Anne (Wayne) Willner, Sonia (Les) Howells, and Trudy (Shawn) Smith; eight granddaughters: Crystal (Josh) Inwood, Cassandra (Randy) Cerniuk, Cayla (Art) Grasby, Candice Howells, Chelsey Willner, Aleah Willner, Jasmine Smith and Bailey Smith; great-grandchildren: Madyson, Matt, Brooklyn and Mason Cerniuk, and Cole Inwood; sister, Linda (Dennis) Huck; brothers, Gene (Joyce) Thompson and Lynn (Catherine Thompson); aunts, Joan (Leroy) Arnst and Patricia Wilson; life time friend Ruth Book as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other family members and in-laws. Pat was predeceased by mother Anne Russell, father Fred Russell, stepmother Joyce Russell, sister Sandy Siemens, brother Kenneth Thompson and special aunt Eva Schiller as well as many other family members and in-laws.
The Mass of Christian Burial was held on Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at 2 p.m. at Saint Andrew’s Roman Catholic Church, Kenaston, Sask. Celebrant was Rev. Fr. Joseph Gyim-Austin. Music was provided by organist Mary Jane Morrison and the St. Andrew’s Choir directed by Patti Hertz. Active pallbearers were Pat’s granddaughters, urn bearers Crystal Inwood and Bailey Smith. Pallbearers were Cassandra Cerniuk, Cayla Grasby, Candice Howells, Chelsey Willner, Aleah Willner and Jasmine Smith. Interment was at the Family Plot, St. Andrew’s Cemetery, Kenaston, Sask.
The following is the tribute presented by Susan Anholt:
Patricia Anne Russell was born to Fred and Anne Russell in 1936 in Rouleau, Sask. Pat’s mom, Anne Russell was a school teacher and her career had taken her to Cactus Lake where she met Fred Russell.
Fred joined the army in 1939 and served until the end of the war. Fred and Anne were divorced in 1942, only to reunite and remarry in 1946. Anne Russell died in 1952 shortly after the birth of Pat’s only sibling Sandra. As a widower with a tiny infant, Fred later married Joyce, a widow and mother of four, Gene, Lynn, Linda and Ken. Joyce assumed the role of mothering baby Sandra. Pat was 15 and soon was away from home to finish her grade 12 in Francis Sask., living with her Aunt Eva and Tony Schiller. Clearly these formative years were to have a great influence over Pat.
Following the completion of high school, Pat was hired as a study supervisor at Kerrobert School. Pat worked in this capacity for one year until the time of her eighteenth birthday, when she joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. Pat was stationed in St. Jean, Quebec for basic training from November 1954 to February 1955. After training she was stationed in Ottawa and worked in the army dental corp. as a dental assistant. Pat was discharged in 1957, ready to move on to a new career.
Pat then attended Teacher’s College in Saskatoon; at that time a one year program. Upon graduation she immediately accepted a teaching position at Briggs School east of Kenaston. This rural school held familiarity for Pat as she had experienced living in a teacherage with her mother. Pat taught at Briggs School from 1958 to 1960.
Now in 1958 when a new, young, single teacher arrived to a farming community, the young farmers were quick to check out the new teacher. This was true for Vincent Pavelich and in 1959 Pat and Vincent were married. Apparently that charming Croatian won her heart!
Their first daughter Anne was born in 1960, followed by Sonia in 1962. The family was completed by the birth of Trudy in 1967.
During her time in the Kenaston community Pat has been a homemaker, a farmer’s wife with all that entails, a very competitive pitcher with the Kenaston Kuties, teacher, long-serving bus driver, bartender and co-manager of Traveller’s Service from 1986 – 1994.
Through these years Pat and her accordion were a familiar team at a house warming, birthday party, Christmas carolling, trail ride or ladies bonspiel. We could always count on Pat to lead a singsong long into the evening; many of us have fond memories of “Oh Me, Oh My”, “Oh Good Bye Blues” or my favorite “When Moses Was”. Over the years Pat’s repertoire evolved to Praise choruses and she used her gifts to entertain at the Seniors Center, Prairie View Lodge and AGlow events along with Idelle Westman and Connie Chomyshen. Pat enjoyed this so much she had her favourite choruses printed onto overhead transparencies so everyone could take part…
In 1993 Pat opted for the peaceful existence of town; moving first into the low rental units on Central Avenue then in 1994 purchasing her home at 609 – 4th Street. This residence was easily recognized due to the “Pat’s Reflexology” shingle hanging at the front of the house. For Pat, reflexology was another form of healing and whether it was the deep massage or the prayer that went along with it, clearly she was successful!
In recent years Pat has been a member of Kenaston Seniors and she was happy to spend time visiting and laughing with her peers.
Pat was a Christian who worshipped in the Roman Catholic tradition. She felt that she was fortunate to have the opportunity to study with various faith groups and Christian denominations. This experience gave her a working knowledge of the Bible and a living faith. Pat’s love of music has extended into this church as over the years it has been a rare sight to see her usual spot in the choir empty.
Pat wanted to have the miracles of her life acknowledged to you, her friends and family today.
• Her first miracle was seeing each of her beautiful girls for the first time.
• Pat experienced the miracle of sobriety in 1980 when she joined AA; through this affiliation she finally addressed her lifelong anger at God for the loss of her mother during her teenage years.
• The 1986 miracle of receiving Christ as her personal Saviour, and it was very important to Pat to acknowledge that she received the gift of the Holy Spirit when a Catholic priest anointed her with oil.
• The 1988 miracle of the complete healing of an aneurism on her aorta through prayer and laying on of hands.
• The miracle of seeing each of her grandchildren for the first time; experiencing all of the joy and none of the pain. Each grandchild was so important to Pat; you had only to watch her face in their presence to see her pride, joy and love!
• The miracle of seeing her sister Sandy experience a remission from cancer in order to receive Christ as her personal Saviour before a recurrence finally ended Sandy’s life.
• The miracle of completing Lay Formation training at the age of 63 to 65.
She was very thankful to AA for giving her God, her dear friend Ruth for leading her to Christ, Patti for teaching confirmation, Bishop Halpin for confirming her, Father Peter Couglin for baptizing her in the Holy Spirit and Margaret Ann, Lawrence and Bea for witnessing her baptism, Kathy and Ivan Hitchings and George Rolheiser for lay formation, and to Sparky, Connie and Angie for nourishing her love of music.
Pat was very proud of Anne, Sonia and Trudy, each with their own achievement and gifts. Vincent remained her good friend and love of her life to the end.
Memories of the grandchildren:
• Candice remembers grandma riding her bike to their house and having grandma singing the “Going to the Garden to eat Worms” song.
• Cayla remembers grandma always giving thoughtful Christmas gifts and telling her that she was proud of her for becoming a teacher.
• Crystal remembers watching question period on CPAC with grandma along with Blue Jays baseball, and specifically their favorite short stop, the hunky Alex Gonzalez. Maybe 2014 will be their year!
• Chelsey and Aleah remember hot dogs for two weeks during swimming lessons, her amazing driving skills, grace, Cowboy Church in the shop at the family reunion, playing piano with her and singing “God loves You”.
• Bailey remembers asking Grandma to share her pink lipstick and finally Grandma Pat saying you might as well just have that lipstick!
• Jasmine reflected that Grandma’s faith and relationship with God was a beautiful thing. Jasmine stated “She never pushed her feelings on me, but would be the first to pray for me. She taught me that God loves me and she loves me and that’s the way it should be…Hallelujah!”
• Cassandra remembers that Grandma Pat instilled a love of music in all of her granddaughters, they all have memories of singing along as she played the accordion or piano with grandpa backing her up on the spoons and the kids with shaker eggs.
Pat was true to those who she counted as friends and would come to their defense in any circumstance. If you knew Pat at all you knew she was a character. You will also know that Pat did not leave much to chance. Pat asked me to do her eulogy many years ago. In true Pat style she concluded the request with the words “you know, you weren’t my first choice but Ruth said she wouldn’t do it!” I laughed at the time and have laughed about that statement so many times since!” We all need a friend like Pat, they keep you honest!
I will close with Pat’s message to you all, “I want everyone here to know I am happy in eternity. And thanks for coming.”
For friends so wishing memorials in memory of Pat may be directed to the St. Andrew’s Church Fund, Kenaston Sask.; Saskatchewan Heart and Stroke Fund or to the Saskatchewan Diabetic Association.
Hanson’s Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.