Shirley Ann Pavlakovich

Shirley, Mom, Bubba, our Matriarch, passed away Friday, February 15th, 2019 after spending her last hours of life with her family all around her.  We had an impromptu wake to tell her about all the adventures we had with her and had more laughs than tears. It was the best day ever Dad said.  We are a very small family, and she always wanted us to be closer and during her illness and her very last day with us made that happen. Shirley was predeceased by her son, Lori (Lawrence), her parents, George and Edith, sister Mary Jane, in-laws Ivan and Anna, and many close friends and family and her beloved dog, Hobo. Shirley's life will live on in her husband, Frank, who never left her side, especially the month she was in hospital; son Mark and Char, daughter Donna; grandchildren Matthew and Cameron, Alison and Ian and great grandchild Arlo; former son-in-law Kevin; brother Paul and Jane; niece and nephew Kristy and Kenney; long-time friends Lorraine Marchand, Pat Marchand, Syd and Armand Laroque and many friends and neighbours who were always in her heart.  Mom was born on the family farm near Carlton on July 8, 1942.  She loved farming, as a child on the farm she worked as an adult.  When Mary was born, they moved to Rosthern, then Paul came along. Mom, Mary and Paul were close. They lived large, as the family was poor - a big garden supplemented the family in food, bartering and money. Mom had red hair, was a scrapper and didn’t take bullying of her siblings without laying a licken’ on anyone who made fun of Mary for her mental health issues or her cognitive disability or anyone who made fun of Paul for his weight. She was a tomboy and loved taking risks and having fun with her friends always including Paul and Mary. She loved getting dirty, doing everything girls didn’t do at the time, like smoking and drinking beer. Lorraine and Mom spent lots of time together talking endlessly and smoking, then as they got older talking endlessly and not smoking, cooking and baking. Mom always reminded Lorraine that she was much younger than her, by 3 months. Right after high school Mom met Dad at a dance.  Dad, a tall dark, handsome man, from Croatia, stole mom’s heart. Mom and Dad were married on July 2, 1962. They lived in and near Allen, SK. Donna was born in 1963, Lori in 1964, Mark in 1968. We then moved to Moososmin. They opened two ladies wear stores, one in Moosomin, and a second location in Rocanville- Donna’s House of Fashion. Then off to Saskatoon, Delisle, Gled Howe, where her dream of farming again finally came true.  Lori, Mark and Donna had many adventures with Mom. Times were hard, we moved to a house that was infested with rats. One night she put us on the kitchen table and she threw stuff at the rats to protect us. We picked beer bottles endlessly, cleaning mice out of the bottles to scare her. We would go for a drive and find abandoned farm houses going through them and looking for treasures, sometimes we would fall through the floors. She made us homemade french fries, buns, fresh when we came home from school, so we could eat them with chez whiz. It wasn’t fall without a pig head boiling in pot so she could make dad head cheese. Mom would put charcoal in the hibachi, pour lots of gas over it, make us stand behind her and throw matches on it trying to light it. Mom would put all 3 of us on their motorcycle and take us for a spin up and down the driveway, we had to crash into the picnic table to stop as it had no brakes. In Bubba’s eyes Alison and Matthew-Little Joe, could do no wrong. They made crafts, pulled weeds and flowers, found orchids, pussy willows and crocuses on the land, sewed, painted, baked, made food, had sleepovers, and spent many hours playing “May I” and talking to her endlessly. She was proud of anything they did. They too had endless adventures and many trips large and small and lots of fun. Their house was filled with pictures and things that Alison and Matthew made and gave to her. Ian and Cameron were added to a special place in her heart, they too could do no wrong and was so proud of every accomplishment. She started texting to keep in touch with her four grandchildren, where they went around the world Mom was right with them. Mom couldn’t wait for Arlo to be born, when she held him her heart burst with love for the Puddle Head. She couldn’t get enough pictures or videos of him. They both were born in July.  Mom took her final breath at 8:10 p.m., the exact time Arlo woke up, we know her spirit will live through him. Her loyalty, creativity, having a large meal with friends and family, and love of musicals and jellied salads will live on in him. Mom loved traveling to Australia, US, Hawaii, Europe and Croatia, Memphis and any trip short or small. Mom had her trials. Mom hurt her back working on the farm as a child, but that did not stop her from working hard all her life.  She got sepsis as a kid after getting stabbed play fighting. When Mark was born, she needed 8 units of blood. We had a house fire and lost everything, our barn caught fire as Lori tried to fill a gas can. A lighter fell out of his pocket and he caught fire as well. Lori died by suicide, a mother losing a child was very hard, people didn’t have the understanding of suicide they do now. She was afraid of bodies of water, afraid we would drown. She struggled with her empty nest, weight and smoking. She had been smoke free for 20 years, Mom worried endlessly about everything. Mom had severe anxiety all her life. Their dog, Hobo, helped her with her anxiety so much. She was in pain all the time but did whatever she wanted with her endless energy. Mom was  an event planner, random thinker, loved babies, especially big babies (Mark was 36lbs at 6 months), caterer, home decorator, fundraiser, school mom, Girl Guide leader, lover of anything Elvis, ceramic and craft maker, avid romance novel reader, fun and adventure lover, card player, recipe book collector, aspic, burnt hotdog and marshmallow lover, furniture refinisher, berry picker, cook, baker, gardener, seamstress, banana bread, pie, cabbage roll, marshmallow  and cream puff master, cookbook maker, supporter of many charities, and tireless Caribbean Pavillion at Folk Fest volunteer, especially with Rudy Small who always called her his sister. Mom helped out whenever and wherever she could long before it was called volunteering. Mom was very social and could talk to anyone about anything. Mom was sentimental and loved to reminisce. She had an open mind, would listen and respect what was said. She found a way to balance her faith and had her own opinions. She had no prejudices. She had endless house plants, and outdoor plants, that love she spread to her family. She had Highway Hot Line and Environment Canada on speed dial. She loved a good Chinese food smorgasbord, and had a love of anything sweet. She had many collections, antique linens and Delft were so special to her. Mom loved opening presents, she always liked what was inside but it was the opening she enjoyed the most. She could pull out a meal for large groups out of her fridge, enjoying anyone dropping in at anytime. Not sure what mom ever did before she got her hot glue gun. Months before Christmas she started her baking, then she would decorate every room. Mom’s cancer diagnosis gave us a chance to slow down, then stop, say thank you, show our love and say it, hug, be grateful, remember how fortunate we really are, remember that she gave up so much including many of her dreams so we could have our dreams. She showered us with love. We all would have taken her illness away to fight it ourselves so she could be healthy. She filled a void in many lives. Shirley leaves a legacy of acceptance for everyone who knew her. The gift of peace she has now, is a bonus gift for us. The staff at St. Paul’s Hospital did all they could for Mom and more. Thank you to all who were there for her. Special thanks to nurses Tanya and Christina from Flex 2 for being so compassionate and empathetic and Dr. Colin Honish. Both went over and above to guide us all in her last day. Karen and Gene Layton helped us navigate the health care system, thank you. Ray Logan helped Mom on her cancer journey and talked to her when she needed, thanks. Next time you eat a Teen Burger, onion rings, a Big Mac, drink Crush or eat a homemade gingersnap think of Mom.  If we could pass anything to you from our experience, “stuff” didn’t mean anything to Mom a month before she left us – “We meant everything to her” she kept saying how she wanted her family around her and we were. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made St. Mary’s Catholic Church. A Vigil for Shirley will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 21, 2019. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, February 22, 2019.  Both services will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church (211 Ave O South) in Saskatoon. The Rite of Committal will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery. Arrangements in care of Chelsea Krentz– Mourning Glory Funeral Services (306) 978-5200.