Mary Mrazek

Mary Martha (Benesh) born December 8, 1917, formerly of Fort Qu'Appelle and Dysart, Sask., passed away February 21, 2006, at the age of 88 years in the Santa Maria Senior Citizens Home, Regina, Sask. The funeral mass was celebrated in the chapel of the Santa Maria Senior Citizens Home, 4215 Regina Avenue, Regina, Sask., on Saturday, February 25, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. by Rev. Rick Krofchek. Interment was held in the Lakeview Cemetery, Fort Qu'Appelle, Sask. at 2:30 p.m., followed by refreshments in the Our Lady of Sorrows R.C. Church, Fort Qu'Appelle. The casket bearers were: Paul Mrazek, Chris Mrazek, Angela Mrazek, Marge Thomson, Carol Benesh and Jim Benesh.

The following is the eulogy as given by son Barry:

Mom was born on December 8, 1917. Being the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, she was christened Mary … Mary Martha Benesh. Her parents were Frank Benesh and Anna Schneider. She was the first of seven, followed by Steve, Helen, Albert, Alex, Victor, and Inez. She attended Kronsberg School from 1925 to 1933. She began working at the age of 15½. In 1933, she went to Saskatoon to work as a housekeeper. She returned home in 1935 and worked as a cook at the Dysart Hotel. Later she worked as a cook at the Cupar Hotel. Mom and Dad began courting in 1937 and were married at Kronsberg Church on October 19, 1939. They lived on the Mrazek homestead; in fact, that is where they had their honeymoon. They had three children, Bartholomew, Robert and David (better known as Barry, Bob and Dave). Mom had wanted to christen me Barry, but the priest said that Barry was not a Catholic name. He suggested that I be christened Bartholomew and that Barry be my nickname.

Life on the farm was hard work for Mom and Dad. There was no electricity or running water in those days. Mom always had a two-acre garden. She also helped Dad with the farm work. She helped with milking the cows; for a while, Mom and Dad provided the dairy service in Dysart. She also helped with butchering animals; I have memories of them making sausage in the kitchen. Although she did not like to drive, she hauled grain from the combine. In addition, she was always busy canning preserves (jam, fruit and pickles), knitting and crocheting, and cooking.

Due to hay fever, I had to stay indoors and helped Mom with cooking. She was an excellent cook and was recognized as such throughout the region. I recall helping her make strudel on the kitchen table. We pulled the dough until it was opaque. She used to make apple and cottage cheese strudel. She also made pies and poppy seed pastry. And she made a delicious chicken noodle soup … with home-made noodles; I recall how she meticulously cut the noodles so thin. However, her signature dish was plum dumplings. These are like perogies but with plums inside. She would boil them until they were swollen. Then she would make a sauce of butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. She would sauté the plum dumplings in the sauce. She would then poke them so that the purple juice would squirt out and mix with the sauce. They were simply delicious. I ate my age until I was 13 and consequently I was a chubby kid. And all of this was prepared on a wood stove.

Mom and Dad retired in 1980 and moved to Fort Qu’Appelle. They had a comfortable home and many good friends. Unfortunately Dad passed away early in June 1988. Mom moved to Regina in 1989, into an apartment at Grace Lutheran Place. However, her MS progressed and she required increased medical care, so she moved into a private home in June 1992 and then Santa Maria in December 1992. Here she acquired so many good friends and became famous for her afghans. Her MS continued to progress; first she was unable to walk and finally she became bed ridden. Her condition became complicated with a blockage in 2001. Consequently, she could not eat much and lost a considerable amount of weight. Fortunately her mind was not affected, and she was able to continue reading.

I have a very good memory of Mom’s and Dad’s relationship. They loved each other deeply. I never heard them argue while growing up. Their relationship was an inspiration to me. Mom missed Dad terribly when he died and she prayed to be reunited with him. But the Lord took His time.

From an early age, I knew that Mom was a hard worker, a loving mother, and a devoted wife. When I became older, I recognized that she had a very good mind, had a good sense of humour, was an avid reader, and had broad knowledge. I later came to appreciate the depth of her faith in God. She tolerated her chronic medical condition with patience and without complaint. She was a very courageous person and an example to all of us.

In conclusion, Mom, you will be missed deeply by your family and friends, but you will never be forgotten. I wish to give thanks to Santa Maria staff for taking care of Mom and especially Sr. Denise, who unfortunately cannot be here today. And lastly, I want to give special thanks to Inez for her daily attention to Mom. Inez, you are truly a living saint.

Mary was predeceased by her husband Ed in 1988; her parents Frank and Anna (Schneider) Benesh and brothers: Steve, Albert, Alex and Victor. She is survived by her sons: Barry (Carol), Robert (Darlene) and David (Cyndi); grandchildren: Kevin (Lori Ferrey) Mrazek, Paul (Teresa Yan) Mrazek, Shawn (Susie McGee) Mrazek, Colette (Raphael Thomas) Mrazek, Petrina (Cardell) Dumais, Kelven (Lezlee Grey) Mrazek, Chris Mrazek and Angela Mrazek; great grandchildren: Molly, Carson, Isaiah, Jarrett, Joelle (Bruce) McDonald, Shyla Gilchrist, Nathan, Kara and Karlee Grey; great great grandchildren Tiegen McDonald and Kayla Gilchrist; sisters Helen Lanoway and Inez Benesh and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Arrangements in care of Tubman Cremation & Funeral Services, Wolseley, Saskatchewan, Canada, 1-800-667-8962. Funeral Director - Laurie Rey.