Obituary of Patricia Grabowski

To watch recording of service click this link: 

https://video.ibm.com/embed/recorded/129303655

Pat Grabowski, loving mother to Russell, John, Elaine, Ann and Patty, passed away on January 18, 2021.  She had been living at the Circle Drive Alliance Special Care Home for over 5 years.

Coming from a small household, we made Mom's wish for a big clan come true.  We kids gave Mom a nice big family with special in-laws, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She loved every single one of us dearly.

Mom was born on October 11, 1934, in Toronto to Doris and Fred Hebert.  Her mother had passed away when she was just 17.  Luckily, she had her dear Aunt Muriel, her mother's sister, to take over that role in her life. She had one sister, Elaine, 11 years her senior.  Our Aunt Elaine had her own family of 6 kids.  Mom loved spending time with her nieces and nephews in Ontario.

Mom met our dad, Dr. Stan Grabowski, while working together in the shoe department of Simpson Sears, in the heart of Toronto.  Somehow, he convinced her to move to Melville, Saskatchewan, then to Moosomin, and finally, to Saskatoon where they lived out the rest of their lives.

Trying to sum up Mom's life is not an easy task.  She had such a passion for life, and lifelong learning.  She also rarely let rules get in her way.

Mom loved animals.  We had so many pets over the years: dogs, cats, horses, birds, and even a few cows.  In particular, she was a dog whisperer.  Many a canine preferred her to their owners.  Mom made many friends during her horseback riding days.  As a young girl in Toronto, she would save her money to spend time at dude ranches with her girlfriends.  While living in Moosomin she enjoyed trail riding and Gymkhana events.  She even brought home a few second-place ribbons.  It was later that she told us only two people were competing in her group!

Mom was a water baby.  She passed on a love of swimming to her kids and grandkids.  All of us kids remember swimming lessons at Crooked Lake.  Life jackets were for swimming in the waves, because fun could be had in the water no matter what the weather was like.  Most of us have memories of late-night swims with the promise of hot chocolate, if we were brave enough to go into the cold dark water.

Mom loved to read and to tell stories.  In the last few years, we heard a lot of bible stories and many re-told sermons that touched her life.  She had such a wonderful group of friends from her bible study groups and church.

Sports were a big part of Mom's life.  In later years she watched her loved ones playing them, and also took part herself throughout her life.  She curled, played tennis, cross country and downhill skied, practiced and taught yoga, square danced, walked a kazillion miles, and golfed for many years.

She loved to cook and to bake.  Mom was most famous for her chocolate pound cake, but banana chocolate chip muffins came in a close second.  Her whole wheat bread, buns and cinnamon buns were amazing as well.  Nothing said home more than her big pots of soup.  They were all delicious and entertaining.  Whose bowl had the bone in it that she "missed?"

Mom loved to learn.  She taught herself to play the guitar and the penny whistle with definite enthusiasm, and questionable success.  (We can write that because her great sense of humour allowed her the divine ability to laugh at herself).  She was a self-taught yogi from books she sourced out in the 1970's.  She was one of the few seniors in the care home, that could use an iPad, Kobo, and iPhone.  Many lessons from her grandchildren, and the local library helped to make that happen.  Her ability to access FaceTime was such a blessing during quarantine.  We were all grateful that she could keep in touch with us.

Investigating and implementing new health regimes were two beloved activities for Mom.  She was open to trying cleanses, fasting, green shakes, vitamins, different diets, and anything else that would improve your health.  We did not appreciate this so much when we were children.  Mixing ground liver with ground beef was just mean.  We were the only kids we knew that hated hamburgers for some reason!

Mom had a way of making the most out of any situation.  The last few years were a real challenge to her.  She had so many of her physical freedoms taken from her, after the stroke.  It was very hard for her to have to depend upon so many, to do just normal daily activities.  Thank goodness for all the wonderful new friends Mom made that supported her.  She valued all the friendships she formed at the care home.  She thrived on the attention, kindness, camaraderie and giggles she shared with those dear people. 

Mom was so much , and now she is gone.  She left us with many special memories.  Let's cherish those.

Unfortunately, a celebration of her life has to be held at a later time. Any donations to honour her memory can be made to Circle Drive Alliance Church, or to the SPCA.  Condolences may be left at www.saskatoonfuneralhome.com where a slideshow will be available to view later this week.