Lucille Elizabeth Reding

Lucille was born on February 6, 1934 at the family farm near Cudworth, Saskatchewan, the 3rd child of 9 to parents John and Alvina (Gruending) Medernach. She completed her elementary education at St. Cunigunda Country School, attended the Ursuline Convent in Bruno for a few years, and took time from school to help her mother care and nurture for her siblings.

In 1952, at the age of 18 she married the love of her life, Edwin Reding, a handsome, worldly neighbour boy who had just returned from working in the big city of Toronto. They married on June 2, and embarked on an amazing journey together, honeymooning with her sister Marcella and newly wed husband Don Bauer. This would be the first of many adventures the two couples would embark-on together, filled with lots of laughs, tall stories, competitive card games and fond memories. Lucille and Marcella would later travel together to Europe, the Holy Land, and the Panama Canal.

Shortly after getting married, Lucille returned to school as a mature student to complete her final year at Cudworth High School. After renting the nearby Henry Billesberger farm, Lucille and Edwin purchased a farmstead from Henry Roth a mile east of her parents’ home. In December 1955, on one of the coldest days of the year, her first-born child (Donavin) signalled it was time to arrive. Due to the deep snow and cold, they took horse and caboose across the fields from their farm to her parent’s home where her dad John Medernach had a warm car ready for travel to Prince Albert Hospital. As a young parent, she continued to advance her education, obtaining a teaching diploma in 1960, and later double degrees from the University of Saskatchewan while raising 3 children.

For over 33 years she split her time with family, farming, teaching, and volunteering in the community with the CWL and others, while regularly taking meals to the field, then preparing for class late into the evening after the kids went to bed. Known as “Mrs. Reding” in the school, she taught a wide variety of classes, developed curriculum for new classes (because she was so good at this) and became the school librarian. She loved getting to know the students, cherished the moments teaching them, enjoyed the many laughs along the way, and had a knack for bringing the best out of them, touching the lives of many with her love, compassion and kindness.

On the farm she took solace in the surrounding nature, enjoying the farm animals and birds (particularly the Robins - but not so much the Magpies and Crows), the daily walks, her flowers and of course, her super-sized garden which could feed an army of farmhands. As fall approached annually, dad and the kids would be summoned to pitch-in with shelling the peas, digging the carrots and potatoes, and shucking the corn. In the winter months, Friday and Saturday evenings were often spent at friends and neighbours, particularly with the Kollas and Richardsons, playing cards and socializing. At anytime of the year, our freezer was packed with treats and baking, for the unexpected drop-ins of friends and family.

Following in the path of her parents, Lucille exhibited a deep faith as a devoted Catholic. She greeted all with a warm smile, led by example and was often the eternal optimist during the most difficult times.

In her retirement years, Lucille and Edwin spent many winters in Arizona. She found pleasure in morning aquasize, afternoon dance and golf, evening socializing and especially having a good cup of coffee. After Edwin’s passing, she moved to Saskatoon and continued travelling to Arizona well into her 80’s, exhibiting her drive, ambition and independence as she drove herself on the 30-hour drive.

Lucille is survived and dearly missed by her children Donavin (Cindy Frey) Reding, Brendan (Sandy) Reding, and Lorelei (Darryl) Bender; her 9 grandchildren, Derek (Sarah) Reding and their children (Jake, Zack, Max), Tyler (Sarah Fortin) Reding and their children (Kash, Rocky, Zenas), Chandra (Mitch) Gusikoski, Shelby (Ashton) Ries and their children (Bryn, Colton), Jaden, Jenna and Jordyn Reding, and Kylie and Keenan Bender. She is also survived by her sister Audrey (Ray) Blais and brother Phillip (Theresa) Medernach, and in-laws Don Bauer, Leona Medernach and Annette Frie.

She was predeceased by her husband of 47 years, Edwin, her daughter-in-law Lana (Donavin) Reding, her parents, John and Alvina, her siblings Genevieve Kurtenbach, Marcella Bauer, Mary Ann Frie, Roland Medernach (in infancy), Louis Medernach, Catherine Medernach, and their spouses Walter Kurtenbach and Arthur Frie, as well as special friends John Dosco and Siegfried Lingnau.

The family would like to thank the compassionate staff at Oliver Lodge and Dr. Roy Chernoff for the loving care they gave Lucille over the last 2 years. Also, to the staff at Mourning Glory Funeral Services we would like to thank you for your invaluable help.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Lucille’s name to the Canadian Diabetes Association, or the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The Family thanks you for sharing in their sorrow. Your thoughtfulness is appreciated and will always be remembered.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church in Cudworth, SK, on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at 10:30 am with Rev. Fr. Benjamin Ezekwudo as celebrant. Interment will follow at the St. Michael's Roman Catholic Cemetery.