Obituary of Hazel Osatchoff

Our mom, Hazel Osatchoff of Langham, SK passed away peacefully on September 12, 2017. Mom will be forever at rest with the one she loved best, her loving husband Peter who passed on October 27, 2016. Mom is survived by her brother, Nick (Gertie) Chernoff, daughter Carol (Orville) Epp and their children, Jana (Scott Gibbons), Lori (Kevin) Hitchings, Angela (Devin) Collins, daughter Janet Wilson and her children, Charles and Christina, and son Perry (Yvonne) Osatchoff and their daughter Christina. She is also survived by her great grandchildren Matthew Hanson, Tyr Hitchings, Julie Hitchings, Brody Collins and Hailey Collins. Other surviving relatives include sister-in-law, Helen (Fred) Hoodicoff, sister-in-law, Mary Osatchoff, nephew Wade Chernoff, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, William and Polly Chernoff, nephew Kevin Chernoff, brother-in-law Fred Osatchoff, sister-in-law Polly Lochrie, son-in-law Roger Wilson, and nephews Allan Osatchoff and Michael Popoff. Hazel was born on a family farm in Blaine Lake, SK. Mom completed grades 1-8 in a one-room school at Windsor Lake. In the summer, mom and her brother Nick rode to school 2.5 miles away in a pony drawn cart. Come winter, her father William drove them to school in a horse drawn caboose. Mom sang solos accompanied by her guitar at the Christmas concerts. She also liked going to ACT Amateur Nights. Mom completed Grade 9 by correspondence; then finished her high school years in Blaine Lake. She stayed on the farm where chores were another form of education--feeding chickens, calves and milking cows. Mom helped her mother Polly cook for the threshing crew at harvest. Mom fell in love with dad at the Finlayson District ball tournament and they were married in 1947. They truly loved every minute of their 69 years together. They took over the Osatchoff family farm at Pakrovka Creek where they raised their three children, Carol, Janet, and Perry. In 1972 they built their dream home in Langham where they resided until 2008. Mom had a short part-time job at the Langham Care Home. In their later years, they moved to Villa Royale in Saskatoon, Borden Care Home and finally, Langham Care Home. It was during these years that mom appreciated visits with family and friends, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren who always made her smile. Time was spent travelling in the country looking at crops. Mom and dad spent a great deal of time travelling to Sleeping Buffalo, Watrous, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Arizona and California. It was not uncommon for mom and dad to load up Perry, Janet and Carol for their yearly trip to BC returning home with Carol and Janet sitting on crates of cherries and Perry laying in the back window of the 1956 Ford. Mom’s passions were flower arranging, gardening and she was a self-taught scrapbooker. As well, she appreciated her Doukhobor faith and her passion for singing in the Saskatoon Doukhobor Choir was evident. Camping was a love of mom’s where she was often a guest in the Epp van. She loved making her grilled cheese bush pies. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Saskatoon Doukhobor Prayer Home or the Langham Care Home. Babee was everyone’s babee: her love of people, a positive attitude, a constant smile, a contagious laugh, a loving, kind and giving woman. Everyone went home with a jar of borscht, garden produce or a flower arrangement most often in her favorite color purple. Mom was “special” in so many ways and made people who knew her feel special as well. She enjoyed life to the fullest. We will miss her love and support and draw strength from her memory. The family expresses heartfelt thanks to the Langham Care Home for their care and compassion shown to our mom, Saskatoon Funeral Home, Officiant Jeanette Stringer, The Rev. Kathleen James-Cavan, Saskatoon Doukhobor Choir, the pallbearers, and Knox United Church for the luncheon. The family also expresses their gratitude for all the food, flowers, cards, kind words and memorial donations. Your thoughtfulness is appreciated and will always be remembered. “Remember: My death is an ending to you, it is a new beginning for me, and I will be in the best of company.” By Hazel Osatchoff