Elaine Pearl Hrycenko

Elaine passed away peacefully in Saskatoon, surrounded by love and faith, at the age of 84. Born near Preeceville, she was the only child of Philip and Edith Thideman and grew up on the family farm she cherished near Endeavour, SK. She carried her ancestry — Mitchell, Preece, Roste, and Thideman — with deep pride throughout her life.

Elaine married Ernest (Ed) Hrycenko in 1961 and farmed in partnership with her parents while raising their daughter, Eldeen. From her early years at Rockford School, where she taught Grades 5–8 and served as principal of a two room school, to her decades at Sturgis Composite High School developing the Grade 7–9 art program, she poured her heart into helping others grow. She taught children to see the world differently — offering patience, encouragement, and wisdom that changed countless paths. She planted seeds of confidence, compassion, and curiosity in her students, many of whom carried her influence throughout their lives.

Her Christian faith shaped everything she did. She served in countless roles within the Anglican Church — lay reader, youth leader, ACW president, delegate to diocesan, provincial, and national synods, and representative to companion dioceses in Cuba and Guyana. She was known across the Diocese of Saskatoon as a builder of Sisterhood, a woman of prayer, and someone who was always trying to move things forward with purpose and enthusiasm.

Elaine embraced retirement with energy and joy. She landscaped beautiful yards — on the farm, in Preeceville, and later on her Saskatoon balcony — creating spaces that reflected her love of nature and beauty. She travelled the world, wrote articles, created art, and remained deeply connected to her church family, her community, and her many friends.

Her pocket crosses — first wooden, then pennies — became her quiet ministry. Each one was given with intention, never casually. When Elaine placed a cross in someone’s hand, she made them feel like they were the only person in the world receiving one. She promised to pray for them for a week, and she did. Those small crosses became her way of offering hope, comfort, and connection — one person, one prayer, one blessing at a time.

We remember a woman who believed deeply in the power of shaping lives and the Christian way of life. That same devotion carried into her family, where her conversations, her example, and her unwavering belief in people became the foundation they stand on today. Her words lifted others, her actions steadied them, and her belief in making a difference shaped the world around her.

In her memory, may we choose to live with the same lessons she taught and the intention she lived by — shaping futures, lifting and supporting others, and making a difference. Her life reflected the spirit of the Prayer of Jabez: a life of blessing, expanded influence, and faithful service.

Prayer of Jabez “Bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory (influence/capability), that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain.” — 1 Chronicles 4:10

Elaine is predeceased by her parents Philip and Edith Thideman, her husband Ernest (Ed) Hrycenko, and her son in law Sam Diggins. She is lovingly remembered and survived by her daughter Eldeen Pozniak Diggins, grandchildren Greg (Carley) Pozniak, Grant (Emma) Pozniak, and Alex Diggins, and great grandchildren Natalie, Zoey, and Jocelyn. She treasured her Godchildren — Kelly Wiwcharuk and Elizabeth Greber — her extended family, her students, her Sisters in Christ, and her wide circle of friends.

Elaine lived a life of blessing, expanded influence, and faithful service. Her legacy continues in the lives she shaped, the faith she lived, and the love she shared.

Celebrations of Life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on August 19, 2026, at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church (10 Grosvenor Cres, Saskatoon) and then at 2:00 p.m. on August 22, 2026, at Preeceville Funeral Home (2nd Ave. N.E. Preeceville, SK.) Luncheons to follow.