Obituary of Sylvia Sophie Stanowich

To Watch Live Stream of Service click this link: http://www.ustream.tv/embed/23606452?html5ui 

Sylvia Sophie Stanowich passed away peacefully at the age of 75 on November 18, 2022. She is survived by her daughter Daria (Greg) Malin, son Dustin Stanowich, grandchildren Trisha, Elliott, Allister, & Jack, brother Willie (Gerry) Yacishyn, and numerous sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law and nieces, and nephews. Sylvia was predeceased by her husband, Robert, parents Michael and Julia Yacishyn (Stefanyshyn), parents-in-law Alex and Mary Stanowich (Kosowan), brother-in-law Harry Bedry, and great-nephew Landon Ellison-Radke.

Sylvia was born in Preeceville, Sk on Dec 15, 1946. She grew up on the family farm in the Chechow district. She attended Chechow elementary and Preeceville high school. 

Sylvia’s lifelong teaching career began with Teacher’s College in Regina. She taught elementary school in Norquay. Then she moved to Saskatoon while she taught in Clavet and South Corman Park. She met Robert Stanowich and they were married in 1972. When their children arrived, Sylvia paused her teaching career to focus on their young family. In 1987 she went back to University to complete her Bachelors of Education degree with a focus on Ukrainian language studies. Soon after, she started teaching kindergarten at St. Goretti Ukrainian Bilingual School in Saskatoon and stayed there until her retirement, leaving a lasting impression on the Ukrainian school and community. Sylvia and Bob also practiced the Ukrainian culture and traditions at home and passed them on to their children through Ukrainian school, dance, and culture classes.

Sylvia loved to travel, and this took her tenting across Europe in her early 20’s, throughout the United States and Mexico, on long-distance Canadian family road trips, and even to Ukraine to connect with relatives. She also loved to get together with family and friends, with many evenings spent over card games. Bob and Sylvia were very hospitable, and their home was always a welcome place for friends and family to come eat, celebrate, visit, and stay. 

After retirement, Sylvia spent much of her time with her grandkids. They benefited from her gift of teaching just as her many students had before them.

As Sylvia made several moves to accommodate her growing support needs, she easily adapted and made friends with her new neighbours because of her warm, gentle, and welcoming nature.

We would like to thank the friends and family who spent time with and cared for Sylvia over the last number of years and especially in her final days.  Special thank you to the staff at Home Instead Senior Care, Keedwell Assisted Living Centre, and Porteous Lodge for their kindness and attention especially during COVID when family could not be there to assist. 

Prayer Service will be held on Wednesday, November 23^rd 7:00pm at Saskatoon Funeral Home (338 4^th Ave N). Funeral will be on Thursday, November 24^th at 11:00am at Ss. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church (1202 11^th St E).  

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Society of Saskatchewan www.alzheimer.ca/sk or Ukrainian Patriot www.ukrainianpatriot.org.