Veronica Anderson

Veronica Catherine (Vernie) Anderson (nee Mlazgar) Regina, Sask. and formerly of Lipton and Fort Qu'Appelle, Sask., peacefully passed away with her family by her side on February 7, 2006 at the age of 85 years. The funeral mass was celebrated in the Our Lady of Sorrows R.C. Church, Fort Qu'Appelle, Sask., on Friday, February 10, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. by Rev. Rick Krofchek. Interment followed in the Lakeview Cemetery. Prayers were held privately. The casket bearers were grandchildren: Lynette Bordass, Debra Anderson, Jason Bradley, Jeff Bubyn, Derrick Bradley, Lorraine Lamontagne, Curtis Anderson, Crystal Anderson, Desiree Anderson, Kyle Anderson, Jordan Anderson and Megan Anderson.

The following is the eulogy as given by Dale Anderson:

Veronica Catherine Mlazgar was born to Andrew and Marie Mlazgar on October 16, 1920. She was the youngest in a family of seventeen. Mom grew up on the Mlazgar farm, about three miles southwest of Patrick, Saskatchewan. She attended Heavyland School, around Lipton, in a one room schoolhouse with forty-five to fifty students. And yes she did walk the 2.5 miles in the summer with her brothers and sisters, carrying her lunch in a jam tin and drinking water from a 10 lb. syrup pail. Due to all of the work on the farm, she was unable to finish her education, but always spoke of fond memories of the farm, school and Patrick.

Most of all she remembered how successful their annual picnics were. They invited surrounding schools to attended, with everyone ending up at the Mlazgar farm for a huge barn dance, where occasionally she would play guitar with other family members. While at home she enjoyed sewing and doing needle work, making doilies and embroidering on many table cloths. It was also in these early days that she learned to be the great baker and cook that she carried with her until the very end.

Then one day everything changed. She met James Anderson from Lipton. Dad always used to talk about all of the miles he put on his house, going back and forth to the Mlazgar farm as well as other stories. They were married on February 8, 1944 in Sacred Heart Church in Lebret. They lived on the Anderson family farm just north of Lipton, raising seven of their eight children: Gerald, Lorna, Delphine, Dorothy, Arnold, Myrna and Ken.

When my brothers and sisters were growing up on the farm, they had a lot of good times. They had many ball games which were followed by a weiner roast with neighbours or relatives. But with seven kids there was also a lot of work to be done and mom was watching to see that each of them did their own chores, this included looking after the pet deer.

In 1961, they moved into town and completed their family when Dale was born.

In 1974, they moved into the top living quarters of the Royal Bank building, also in Lipton. In 1986 only when all of the kids were gone, they retired to Fort Qu’Appelle. There they enjoyed their brand new suite and many conveniences close by. They enjoyed going for coffee with their regular friends and making new ones. They also had a little garden near by and enjoyed the fresh vegetables.

After dad passed away in December of 1994, mom started reading books, doing picture and word puzzles and got more interested in watching mens and womens curling on t.v. She also continued socializing over a cup of coffee. In February of 2003 she decided it was time to make the move to Regina. She moved into a very nice seniors apartment on the 7th floor across from a beautiful park. It didn’t take long for her to feel at home and make more new friends. She really enjoyed sitting on her balcony watching the sunset and admiring the flowers in the park, while taking care of her own potted flowers and vegetables.

Mom also liked to keep in touch with friends and family by talking on the phone or by sending cards or letters. A few of these people who stand out are her cousins in Iowa and Arizona and especially her only living sibling out of the seventeen, her oldest sister Maggie who is 97 and lives in High River, Alta.

While putting together this eulogy, I asked for input from the rest of the family. Some of the responses were, Mom was: a regular every day person, hospitable to our friends, always there for us, a problem solver and a courageous fighter. But the one word which I thought best described mom was “strong”. The dictionary defines “strong” as: able to last, endure and resist, also not easily influenced or changed. Mom was especially strong in the following ways:

Strong Mentally - For starters, raising eight kids can wear out ones mind. While this happened earlier on in her life, her mind was still as sharp during her finals days. For example, while lying weak in her hospital bed she knew all of her children, grandchildren and all visitors. But what was more amazing was that she was asking if we ate all of the tomatoes in the white bowl, that were on the second shelf of the fridge back at her apartment! WOW!

Strong Spiritually - Mom always went to church on Sundays while she was able to. She would even go to a small church service in her apartment building while she was still there.

Strong Independence – This was evident as she cooked, baked and cleaned on a regular basis while living on her own until she was over 85 years of age.

Strong Family Values – No, we didn’t have a lot of money, but we had a lot more. Mom and dad taught us that the strength of the family was much more important and valuable. If there were any tough times that arose, we had each other to pull us through, thus making the tough times bearable while making the good times extra special. The strength of our family is also a credit to mom and dad, as they were married for 50 years. Following suit, a combined total # of years in marriage for us eight children so far is 234. Now the grandchildren are approaching 10 years. So in total, our “whole” family have totaled almost 300 years of marriage, thanks to the strength of mom and dads strong family values.

Strong Love – The love for all of her eight children, twelve grandchildren and one great grandson was evident as she never missed a graduation, wedding or special event. During her final days, mom had expressed to me how much she loved each and every one of us and how lucky she was to have us all. An example of this love came when she needed a fan going in her room to keep her body temperature down. Well one day when we were visiting she told the nurse to turn off the fan because her kids were getting cold!!

And finally Strong Physically – This is obvious due to the fact that she had and raised eight kids!! But I also remember as a kid when I was bad she had no problem turning me over her knee and spanking my bare butt!

Veronica (said by very few, because you would be quickly reminded) preferred to be called Vernie, had also experienced a number of exciting events in her life:

A number of years ago mom got front row seats for one of her favorite country singers, Bill Anderson who was in Regina. This was certainly a thrill for her.

In their later years, mom and dad went camping a few times with some of the family. Mom loved the beauty of nature and how quiet and peaceful it was. It was on one of these trips in 1965 at the age of 64 that she had her first boat ride.

Their 50th wedding anniversary was also a highlight, even making it more special was when one of her granddaughters modeled mom’s wedding dress.

In October, 2003 one of her daughters took mom to have tea and dainties at Government House in Regina. This thrilled mom as she had never had tea in such a prestigious place before. She talked about this experience for quite some time.

There was the time when she got on an airplane for the first time to fly to Edmonton for her grandson’s wedding. She did this when she was 83 years old. I find this fascinating due to fact that the very first ever flight made by the Wright Brothers happened just a few years before she was born.

Most recently mom was overwhelmed with pride and joy as she was blessed with her first great grandchild. His name is Noah James Anderson and he was born on January 20 of this year. Finally after 85 years, she added this title to her life and she let everyone she saw know about it! But on Wednesday, February 1 the icing was put on the cake when great grandma got to hold Noah for the first time. This I’m sure was one of the highlights of her life.

Also, mom was again proud and happy to learn that she will be a great grandmother again, later this year!

As we come today to say goodbye to our dear mom, grandma and great grandma, it is with a sadness at our loss for the end of our parents, grand and great grandparents and the emptiness that will be left. But for mom, it is a day of rejoicing as she has gone home to be with her lord and her beloved Jim and for that we are so grateful.

Thank you mom from: Gerald, Bev, Debra, Curtis and their extended families: Lorna, Fritz and Jeff, Del, Dennis, Jason, Derrick and their extended families: Dorothy, Arnold, Lynette, Lorraine and their extended families: Arnold, Shirley, Crystal, Deseree and their extended family: Myrna and Malcolm, Ken, Laurie and Kyle, Myself, Michelle, Jordan and Megan for being one of a kind and may we as a family do you proud in the years to come.

So mom, soar into the heavens, like the Wright Brothers and remember that you will be missed and we all love you very much.

Vernie was predeceased by her loving husband Jim in 1994; parents Andrew and Mary Mlazgar (Tkach); brothers: Frank, Andy, Jack, Joseph, Tom, William, Steve and George Mlazgar and a baby brother; sisters: Clara, Agnes & Ann Schill, Emma Messner, Mary Duplin and Joesphine in infancy. She is survived by her loving children: Gerald (Bev), Saskatoon; Lorna (Fred) Bubyn, Regina; Delphine (Dennis) Bradley, Lloydminster; Dorothy (Arnold) Bordass, Regina; Arnold (Shirley), Regina; Myna (Malcolm) Benson, Lloydminster; Ken (Laurie), Regina and Dale (Michelle), Regina; grandchildren: Debra & Curtis (Kazia) Anderson, Jeff Bubyn, Jason & Derrick (Melanie) Bradley; Lynette Bordass; Lorraine (Leigh) Lamontagne, Crystal & Desiree Anderson, Kyle Anderson; Jordan & Megan Anderson; great grandchild Noah Anderson; sister Margaret Stirling, High River, Ab.; brother-in-law Ed Schill, Balcarres, Sk; sister-in-law Nora Mlazgar, Kelowna, B.C.; Godchildren Geraldine Robinson, Bromhead, Sk. and Shirley Mills, White City, Sk. as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

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