OLYNUK: Sophie Rose
May 22, 1918 - August 9, 2014
Mrs. Sophie (nee Schmitz) Olynuk of Humboldt, SK, passed away at Humboldt District Hospital on Saturday, August 9, 2014. She was 96 years of age. Sophie was born on May 22, 1918, on the family farm in the Leofeld district to Henry and Mary Schmitz. She attended St. Bertha School in Leofeld until grade 8 and completed her grades 9 and 10 by correspondence. After her schooling, she worked as a housekeeper in Saskatoon and after some time, she joined the Army and served as a staff car driver. One evening at a dance in Cudworth, Sophie met Peter Olynuk and they were married on July 11, 1946 at St. Leo's Church near Cudworth. They homesteaded west of Middle Lake and farmed there until 1969 when they moved into Middle Lake. In Middle Lake, they both worked at Bethany Pioneer Village where Sophie was employed as a cook. In 1983, they moved into Humboldt to the Harry Ford Center, where a short time after, Peter died in 1984. Sophie was very active in the seniors community and never missed a function. She enjoyed going to Bronco games, and always kept up with the current events happening. Sophie and Peter enjoyed travelling throughout Canada and the United States, especially attending the Kindersley Goose Festival, which they never missed. She always enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren supporting them at their events. "A wonderful, much loved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, her passing has left a huge hole in our lives. She was a good woman who truly cared about people. We know she is with Dad, Jim and Angela. Love, 'til we meet again Mom." Sophie is survived by her daughter Sharon (Gordon) Doepker and family, Wanda Krentz and children Kyle, Taylor and Sam; Bonnie (Lyle) Olexsyn and children Sara and Connor; Garry (Natalie) Doepker and children Gabriel and Brooke; Colin (Deanna) Doepker and son Ronan; her son Jerry (Debbie) Olynuk and family, Hannah and Hayden; her son James' family, Ryan and Kate Olynuk; and in-laws: Mike Olynuk, Josephine Storer, Helen Christ, Hilda Olynuk, Lauretta Nyuli, Helen Olynuk, and Stan Desormeau. She was predeceased by her husband Peter in 1984; her daughter Angela (in infancy) in 1947; her son James in 1999; her parents, Henry and Mary Schmitz; and her sisters and brother, Frank, Margaret, Elizabeth and Helen. The Prayer Service for Sophie was held at Schuler-Lefebvre Funeral Chapel, Humboldt, on Tuesday, August 12, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. presided by Janice Dobmeier. Scripture readers were Jerry Olynuk and Kate Olynuk and organist was Darlene Cash. The Funeral Mass was offered at St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church, Humboldt, on Wednesday, August 13, 2014, at 2:00 p.m. celebrated by Fr. Paul Paproski, OSB. Others taking part were Wanda Krentz, crossbearer; Taylor Krentz, intentions; Bonnie Olexsyn and Linda Doepker, scripture readers; Sharon Doepker and Jerry Olynuk, giftbearers; St. Augustine Parish Funeral Choir, music ministry; and Marianna Schmitz and Lillian Galambos, memorial table attendants. An honor guard was formed by the C.W.L. Honorary pallbearers were "all those who shared in Sophie's life". Active pallbearers were Garry Doepker, Colin Doepker, Kyle Krentz, Ryan Olynuk, Roman Mertz and Mervin Schmitz. Interment followed at St. Augustine Roman Catholic Cemetery, Humboldt. Memorial donations may be directed to either the Humboldt Seniors Center or the Humboldt District Hospital General Equipment Fund. Schuler-Lefebvre Funeral Chapel, Humboldt, SK.
