Stella Balaski

Our beloved mom, baba, auntie, sister and friend Stella Balaski passed away peacefully on June 13, 2024. Stella had a long and eventful life, a rainbow of great joys and tribulations throughout which she never stopped loving and caring for others. She left us all with a legacy of long lasting, unconditional love.

Stella was born on January 21, 1930 in Tarnopol, Ukraine. She moved with her parents Fred and Anne Chmarney and her sister Sanie to Canada where they settled a farmstead near Clair, Saskatchewan. On June 8, 1946 Stella married her lifelong partner, Julius Balaski (deceased Dec. 11, 2000). They settled in the Clair area before moving the family to Saskatoon for the remainder of her life. Here, Stella raised eight children; grew vegetable gardens large enough to feed armies; crafted the most beautiful flower beds that would slow traffic; and created a home that was a port in the storm and a warm welcome for so very many family members and friends.

Stella was the heart of her home and the anchor of her family. She leaves behind to mourn her passing her children, Mervin, Myra, Mardy (Brian), Archie (Rita), Maxine (Kirk), Linda (Tom), Michael (Maureen), and Gerald (Nicole), 21 grandchildren, 34 great grandchildren and three great, great grandchildren. Stella also loved her brothers and sisters. She leaves behind her sister Eunice, with whom she had a special bond, her brother Paul and her deceased siblings Mike, Tom, Steven, John, and sisters Sanie and Daria.

We will miss you, dear mom, and are so grateful for your love and your full and open heart. We will carry your legacy of love forever in our hearts. Be with God, be at peace and rest easy mom, knowing how much you meant to each of us and feeling the reflection of our love bestowed upon you yesterday, today and forever.

A Mass of Christian Burial and Celebration of Stella's Life will be held at Holy Spirit Parish 114 Kingsmere Place, Saskatoon S7J 3V7 on Friday, July 19, 2024 at 11:00am. Lunch will follow.