Gladys Fiendell

Gladys was born Dec 10, 1951, the only daughter of Joe and Zonie Sliva. She grew up on a loving and joyful family farm in the Dobrowody area NW of Rama, SK with her brothers Lorne, Daniel (Dan/Danny), and David.

As a farm kid and the only girl, she picked stones, milked cows, threw bales, and learned the fine art of cooking from her mom. The kitchen was always the center of her home throughout her life. Where memories were made, games of canasta and kaiser played, life was discussed, and many meals were enjoyed.

Her farm education prepared her to be a lover of nature. She loved the outdoors, sunsets, and sunrise colours. She enjoyed her gardens and loved to see the leaves budding on trees, the tiny seedlings poking through the ground, the fruits of the harvest and the flowers blooming. The autumn leaves and a sparkle of new light snow fall, hoar frost on the trees always delighted her.

Gladys began her education in a one room country school with grades 1-9 two miles from the farm, then progressed to Rama for high school and graduated grade 12 at Sacred Heart High School in Yorkton. She always knew that she wanted to be a teacher, and in high school if a teacher was ill, and no subs were available, the principal gave her several classes to supervise.

She obtained her teaching certificate at the U of S, quickly followed by teaching her little brother David in Rama for the remainder of that school year. From there she taught in the small town of Carragana where she met her husband, Barry. They were married for 45 1/2 years until his passing in 2019.

Gladys and Barry married in 1973, moved to Regina for a short time then on to Fort Nelson, BC where they purchased a Laundry and Dry Cleaners. Gladys taught school and assisted at the cleaners on weekends. They sold the cleaners in 1977, bought an airstream trailer and planned to travel across Canada to find a place to settle down. However, Gladys was finally pregnant and Cory, causing problems even then, prompted them to settle down in Yorkton where they remained for nearly 25 years.

In Yorkton, Gladys achieved her greatest accomplishment - becoming a mom to three loving children. Cory was born in 1978, Calvin in 1979, and Alison in 1982. These years were busy for Gladys. She cared for her family, her garden, and her community through her work with Air Cadets, Altar Servers and Children's Liturgy at St Gerard's. She always had an open door for friends and family to enjoy some coffee, desserts, and her amazing gardens.

The family toured Canada and Gladys endured many camping vacations. Later in life she was able to travel more broadly. She had a wonderful opportunity to see Mexico when her brother Dan took her to Xtapa, her first "warm" vacation.

In 1999 she accompanied Cory and his truck of possessions to California where he had his first job. It was a highlight to see Disneyland and the great beaches. Though he tried, Cory was unable to convince her to ride the roller coaster at Knott's Berry Farm.

In 2001 after Alison graduated, she moved to Saskatoon where Barry had transferred the previous year and Calvin was completing his University Degree.

She was excited about learning new things. From photography to cake decorating to sewing her kids Halloween costumes to starting a new career as a receptionist and administrative assistant in 2001 she was up for a challenge throughout her life. She embraced new opportunities and learned technical skills even learning what a jpeg was.

She travelled much in the coming years. She, Barry, and Alison went to Hawaii for Cory and Kate's wedding. They went to visit Calvin in Toronto, Cincinnati, Minneapolis (where she was snowed in), and trips to Cincinnati, Sweden, and Seattle followed to visit with Calvin, Melissa, Mackenzie, and Weston. They travelled to Portland to see Cory, Kate, Ashley, and Paige and celebrated many Christmases with them in Saskatoon.

Her family was always the most important thing in her life, and she loved to visit with them, make perogies, borscht and scuffles with them. She especially loved to read to the grandkids and looked forward to surprising them every Christmas with a new ornament and fun "Grandma cash" game. Holidays with grandma were always filled with presents and hugs, and of course delicious food and freshly baked treats.

In 2014 just when retirement was on the horizon, Gladys was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. She bravely began a series of surgeries and always remained positive and supported those around her as she lived with cancer.

She loved being with and meeting new people and exploring new situations. She enjoyed her jobs mostly because of the people she was able to meet. In her retirement this was most evident as her passion was to meet for lunch with a variety of friend groups - girls she knew from university, people from work, and the various friends she met through her cancer and support groups. She renewed contact with old friends and cousins. She cherished all these friends for the love and support they provided, especially in tough times. She asked us to thank you all for your love and friendship - it meant more than you can know to her and her family.

She is pre-deceased by her husband Barry, father Joseph L. Sliva, mother Zonie, nephew Joseph Peter Sliva, brother Daniel (Dan) Sliva, sister-in-law Cheryl Sliva, and many aunts, uncles, and friends.

Left to celebrate her life and carry on her love are her son Cory, and daughter in law Kate, along with their daughters Ashley and Paige, son Calvin, and daughter in law Melissa and their children Mackenzie and Weston, and her only daughter Alison. Her brothers, Lorne Sliva, sister-in-law Cheryl (Dan's widow), David Sliva and his wife Laura, and their children and grandchildren.

Mass of Christian burial to be celebrated on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 11:00 am at Saint Philip Neri Parish (1902 Munroe Ave South, Saskatoon), Rite of Committal to be held at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens.