Anna Kuzmik

It is with immense sadness that the family of Anna Kuzmik announces her peaceful passing on October 28th, 2023, at the age of 102. Anna, originally from Prince Albert, SK, but later residing in Saskatoon, SK, had a deep love for her family, her cultural heritage, and delicious food. She enjoyed celebrating and hosting gatherings that brought everyone together. Anna was known for her exceptional cooking skills, particularly when it came to Ukrainian dishes such as perohy, holubtsi, and borscht. Her culinary talents were highly regarded, and even her grandsons sought her advice from afar. At 101 years old, Anna made her last batch of holubtsi for Ukrainian Christmas in 2023.

Born in Sudova Vyshnya, Ukraine, Anna possessed a remarkable ear for languages. She spoke Ukrainian at home and learned Polish from fellow villagers. Her language skills expanded further during her time living in Germany. In 1941, Anna became a forced laborer in Bavaria, where she met and married her husband. She also served as an interpreter for many during that period. In September 1950, Anna and her husband immigrated to Canada, where they settled in Prince Albert with their four children. Over the years, their family grew to include 13 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, and one cherished great-great-grandson. Anna eagerly embraced the news of an upcoming great-great-granddaughter.

Throughout her incredible 102 years of life, Anna was known for speaking her mind, offering guidance to her loved ones, and striking up conversations with people from all walks of life. She possessed a keen eye for detail and a discerning judgment of character. Anna had a bold spirit and a passion for travel. Her hands were always busy, whether it was knitting garments by simply looking at them or tending to her fruitful garden that bloomed all summer. During the winter months, Anna dedicated her time to hand-stitching wool quilts and making feather pillows. She even had a loom in her basement to create rugs.

After her husband passed away, Anna fearlessly chose to embark on new adventures at the age of 88 and relocated to Saskatoon. There, she discovered new culinary delights, developed friendships, engaged in various activities at her day program, cheered for the local Riders team, and reveled in festivals and events held in the park. Anna also marveled at the wonders of computer technology, using it to communicate with her sister in Ukraine as if she were in the same room. In her final year, as her body weakened under the weight of 102 years, she expressed her love and gratitude to all her caregivers. When asked about this, she humbly replied that she didn’t want them to drop her.

The family is incredibly grateful to all those who cared for Anna during her final years and allowed her to live life to the fullest until the very end. In honor of Anna’s Ukrainian heritage, the family kindly requests that, instead of flowers, donations be made to organizations such as the Canada-Ukraine Foundation or other humanitarian efforts supporting displaced Ukrainians. These contributions would carry on the legacy of the kindness Anna’s own grandparents showed her family many years ago.

A visitation for Anna will be held on Friday, November 3rd, 2023, at 7 PM at MacKenzie Chapel in Prince Albert, SK. A funeral service will follow the next day, November 4th, 2023, at 10 AM, with burial taking place at South Hill Cemetery. Condolences can be sent to the family through the Mackenzie Chapel & Crematorium website. The family extends their sincere gratitude to Brian & Bev Stobbs, Mark Gyoerick, Jordyn Jacobson, and Mel Curle for their caring support. For more information or inquiries, please contact 306.763.8488.