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It is with tender hearts that we mourn the loss of our sweet mother, grandmother, and great grandmother,
Mary Yawney (May 4th, 1928 - April 26th, 2024). Mary was 95 years old at the time of her passing, just a few days from turning 96. She resided in Raymond, Alberta, where she lived for the past 19 years.
Mary was born on a homestead north of Invermay, Saskatchewan on May 4th, 1928. Her parents, Nicolas, and Anastasia Potorieko, emigrated from Lvov, Ukraine to Saskatchewan, Canada in the spring of 1927. They were given 160 acres of free land from the Canadian government, with a stipulation that they would clear the land and use it to grow crops. Mary, along with her brothers and sisters, dedicated many long hours to helping run the family home and farm. She cooked, gardened, picked berries and mushrooms, milked cows, and took care of her younger brothers and sisters while her parents worked the land.
In the summer of 1945, Mary was introduced to a young farmer with jet black hair and beautiful green eyes. His name was Paul Yawney, and he was hoping to obtain Mary’s hand in marriage. Anastasia, Mary’s mother, was hoping for the same thing, but 17-year-old Mary wasn’t so sure about this arrangement. One day, Paul assisted Mary in putting a new bracelet band onto her watch, which she hadn’t been sure how to attach. As he worked, Mary noticed that he had very nice hands. Mary fell in love with his beautiful hands and thought that maybe she might marry him after all. Within several months they were married on November 22, 1945.They resided on a farm given to Paul by his father, Nicholas Yawney, and they ended up having 8 beautiful children and a wonderful life together. They were married for 54 years.
Paul and Mary decided they wanted more opportunities for their children and so, in 1965, they sold their land and moved to Yorkton, Saskatchewan. Mary put her whole heart into married life and dedicated all her time to her family. She was an amazing homemaker, who raised a big garden every summer. She froze and bottled both fruit and vegetables. She loved to cook and was known for her delicious perogies, cabbage rolls, borscht, chicken soup, and pies. Her bread and buns rivaled those of any other in Saskatchewan! Later in life, she took great interest in her grandchildren and great grandchildren and developed rich relationships with them. To this day they feel very close to their grandmother, as a result. In her later years, when Mary no longer gardened, she took great pride in raising beautiful flowers and picking berries to make jam.
Education was very important to Mary. She did all she could to support her children in getting their education and encouraged each one to get a university degree. Mary was also very pleased to get her General Education Degree (GED) once her children were all raised, as she did not have the opportunity to complete school earlier in life.
Mary sought education and truth in every sector, including religion. As she would say, “she studied the religions of the world.” In order to find the true church, she would visit a different church every Sunday to learn about the beliefs held by its members. One day she saw two missionaries who belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints walking down the street. When they knocked on her door, and she heard what they had to say, the Spirit whispered to her that it was true. Eventually, in the fall of 1965, Mary, Paul, and their children were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
A highlight of Mary’s life was serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with her husband, Paul, in the Warsaw, Poland Mission in 1990-91. Mary loved the Polish people and enjoyed sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with them. Paul had the privilege of baptizing many of them into the Church. Mary loved her Heavenly Father and her Savior, Jesus Christ, and remained faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout her whole life. This has had an immense positive influence on the lives of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
We will never forget the remarkable impact for good that Mary had on all our lives as our mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She was larger than life. She lived her life to the fullest! We are forever grateful for the many sacrifices she made on our behalf. We cherish her and her amazing and resilient spirit. When facing life’s challenges, she never gave up, and this has been a wonderful example for us to follow. She made us feel special and loved. We mourn her loss but will continue to better ourselves to honor her legacy and so that we can be with her again someday. Our love for her is truly eternal.
Mary is survived by her children, Roseline Rice, Eugenia (Curtis) Martin, Joseph (Lucy) Yawney, Cathenia (Bryon) Draper, Gailine (Dale) Boice, and Maryann (Blake) Bilben. Also, two daughters-in-law, Jeannie Yawney and Carla Yawney. She also leaves behind 40 beloved grandchildren and 74 cherished great grandchildren and her many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her brother Steve (Lena) Potorieko.
Mary is preceded in death by her loving husband, Paul Yawney, her sons, David Yawney and Konrad Yawney, her granddaughter, Celeste Yawney, and her grandson, Joel Yawney. Her parents, Nicholas and Anastasia Potorieko and her siblings: Andrew Potorieko, Dmytro (Metro) Potorieko, Michael Potorieko, Anna Potorieko, Stella (Potorieko) Nurkowski, Helen Potorieko and John Potorieko.
Friends may meet the family at Legacy Funeral Home in Cardston, Alberta, on Friday, May 3rd, from 7:00 - 8:00 pm. The Funeral Service will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Taylor Street Chapel, Raymond, AB on Saturday, May 4 at 11:00 a.m. Interment to follow at the Cardston Cemetery.
Mary Yawney (May 4th, 1928 - April 26th, 2024). Mary was 95 years old at the time of her passing, just a few days from turning 96. She resided in Raymond, Alberta, where she lived for the past 19 years.
Mary was born on a homestead north of Invermay, Saskatchewan on May 4th, 1928. Her parents, Nicolas, and Anastasia Potorieko, emigrated from Lvov, Ukraine to Saskatchewan, Canada in the spring of 1927. They were given 160 acres of free land from the Canadian government, with a stipulation that they would clear the land and use it to grow crops. Mary, along with her brothers and sisters, dedicated many long hours to helping run the family home and farm. She cooked, gardened, picked berries and mushrooms, milked cows, and took care of her younger brothers and sisters while her parents worked the land.
In the summer of 1945, Mary was introduced to a young farmer with jet black hair and beautiful green eyes. His name was Paul Yawney, and he was hoping to obtain Mary’s hand in marriage. Anastasia, Mary’s mother, was hoping for the same thing, but 17-year-old Mary wasn’t so sure about this arrangement. One day, Paul assisted Mary in putting a new bracelet band onto her watch, which she hadn’t been sure how to attach. As he worked, Mary noticed that he had very nice hands. Mary fell in love with his beautiful hands and thought that maybe she might marry him after all. Within several months they were married on November 22, 1945.They resided on a farm given to Paul by his father, Nicholas Yawney, and they ended up having 8 beautiful children and a wonderful life together. They were married for 54 years.
Paul and Mary decided they wanted more opportunities for their children and so, in 1965, they sold their land and moved to Yorkton, Saskatchewan. Mary put her whole heart into married life and dedicated all her time to her family. She was an amazing homemaker, who raised a big garden every summer. She froze and bottled both fruit and vegetables. She loved to cook and was known for her delicious perogies, cabbage rolls, borscht, chicken soup, and pies. Her bread and buns rivaled those of any other in Saskatchewan! Later in life, she took great interest in her grandchildren and great grandchildren and developed rich relationships with them. To this day they feel very close to their grandmother, as a result. In her later years, when Mary no longer gardened, she took great pride in raising beautiful flowers and picking berries to make jam.
Education was very important to Mary. She did all she could to support her children in getting their education and encouraged each one to get a university degree. Mary was also very pleased to get her General Education Degree (GED) once her children were all raised, as she did not have the opportunity to complete school earlier in life.
Mary sought education and truth in every sector, including religion. As she would say, “she studied the religions of the world.” In order to find the true church, she would visit a different church every Sunday to learn about the beliefs held by its members. One day she saw two missionaries who belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints walking down the street. When they knocked on her door, and she heard what they had to say, the Spirit whispered to her that it was true. Eventually, in the fall of 1965, Mary, Paul, and their children were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
A highlight of Mary’s life was serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with her husband, Paul, in the Warsaw, Poland Mission in 1990-91. Mary loved the Polish people and enjoyed sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with them. Paul had the privilege of baptizing many of them into the Church. Mary loved her Heavenly Father and her Savior, Jesus Christ, and remained faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout her whole life. This has had an immense positive influence on the lives of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
We will never forget the remarkable impact for good that Mary had on all our lives as our mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She was larger than life. She lived her life to the fullest! We are forever grateful for the many sacrifices she made on our behalf. We cherish her and her amazing and resilient spirit. When facing life’s challenges, she never gave up, and this has been a wonderful example for us to follow. She made us feel special and loved. We mourn her loss but will continue to better ourselves to honor her legacy and so that we can be with her again someday. Our love for her is truly eternal.
Mary is survived by her children, Roseline Rice, Eugenia (Curtis) Martin, Joseph (Lucy) Yawney, Cathenia (Bryon) Draper, Gailine (Dale) Boice, and Maryann (Blake) Bilben. Also, two daughters-in-law, Jeannie Yawney and Carla Yawney. She also leaves behind 40 beloved grandchildren and 74 cherished great grandchildren and her many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her brother Steve (Lena) Potorieko.
Mary is preceded in death by her loving husband, Paul Yawney, her sons, David Yawney and Konrad Yawney, her granddaughter, Celeste Yawney, and her grandson, Joel Yawney. Her parents, Nicholas and Anastasia Potorieko and her siblings: Andrew Potorieko, Dmytro (Metro) Potorieko, Michael Potorieko, Anna Potorieko, Stella (Potorieko) Nurkowski, Helen Potorieko and John Potorieko.
Friends may meet the family at Legacy Funeral Home in Cardston, Alberta, on Friday, May 3rd, from 7:00 - 8:00 pm. The Funeral Service will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Taylor Street Chapel, Raymond, AB on Saturday, May 4 at 11:00 a.m. Interment to follow at the Cardston Cemetery.