Semeschuk

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SEMESCHUK: Julia Luba Semeschuk April 3, 1928-January 30, 2021. Julia Semeschuk passed away on Saturday, January 30, 2021 in Fairview Personal Care Home in Brandon at the age of 92. Julia was born in Danbury, Saskatchewan, the youngest child of Anna and Sam Kosteniuk. She was the last surviving member of seven children born to Anna and Sam. Julia married her sweetheart, George Semeschuk in 1944 at the tender age of 16. George always maintained that "When I saw that pretty little girl, I knew I was going to marry her!" And marry her he did and together they raised six children to adulthood. Life in rural Saskatchewan wasn't easy in the post war era and Julia and George decided to venture out on their own, moving to Manitoba where they purchased the home farm at Beresford in 1950. They spent the next six decades expanding their farm, raising their family and enjoying their grandchildren and great grandchildren. The family farming tradition continues as Larry and his son, Chris now share the cropping duties. Julia was an integral part of the farm, working alongside George for many years and also filling the role as housewife, mother, and provider for her family. She was an avid gardener and kept the larder stocked with canning fruit and vegetables. Nobody ever went hungry if Julia had anything to say about it. She tried the working life for a short time, saved enough to buy her sons bikes but decided she preferred farm life after that. Not only was Julia a superb cook, she was an excellent seamstress, knitter and crocheter. There isn't a family member who doesn't have an afghan, mittens, scarves or socks that Julia made for them, all with love in each stitch. She also kept her children in the latest hand made fashions all through their childhood. Julia's grandchildren were her greatest joy, to them she was simply "Baba" and her memory will live on in each and every one of them. Many of Baba's grandchildren spent hours and hours with her, sharing stories and secrets, learning to cook and garden. She shared her love of cooking with many of them and it's something they are so grateful for. Christmas dinner is still filled with Baba's favourite recipes. Her chocolate chip cookies were legendary. Julia and George moved to Souris in the early 2000s and after George passed away, Julia remained in Souris for a number of years. She later moved to Victoria Landing in Brandon where she lived for five years before making her move to Fairview in 2019. COVID-19 made the last year very difficult for her as the one thing she cherished most, her family, was unable to visit except for very few and very short intervals. Julia quietly slipped away just as the quarantine was lifted but the last day she was lucid, January 24, was a happy one filled with pizza, Facetime visits with her family and the news that she would once again become a great grandmother. She slipped away that night and died six days later. Julia was predeceased by her husband, George; daughters, Nadine Syms and Linda Johnston, her grandson, Billy Johnston as well as an infant son, Andrew; parents, Sam and Anna; brothers: Pete, Willie and Harry; sister Mary, twin sisters: Nellie Cybak and Pauline Kobykla, as well as a sister, Katherine in infancy. She leaves to honour her memory and mourn her passing, daughters, Terry and Zoria, sons, Brian (Bonnie) and Larry (Darci); grandchildren, Shannon (Brad) Kowtiuk, Daniel (Hilary) Martin, Melissa Wilkinson and her partner, Scott Dyer, Meghan (Brandon) Gerbrandt, Matthew (Danielle) Martin, Jaydee (Ryan) Craig, Michelle Semeschuk, Chris (Lacey) Semeschuk, Brittaney (Broc) Bertrand, Kelsi (Sam) Semeschuk, Aaron (Lisa) Semeschuk, Alexis (Tyson) Semeschuk; her great grandchildren, Sierra and Brodie Kowtiuk, Michael and Mason Martin, Nolan Paczkoski, Kali Wilkinson, Alyssa, Ariana, and Ava Gerbrandt, Carson, Kylie, Camryn Craig, Avery Semeschuk. Due to the Covid-19 restrictions a private funeral service was held at Kowalchuk's Funeral Chapel with Reverend Don Oddie, called out of retirement, officiating. Julia was laid to rest alongside her husband, George and near her daughter, Nadine in Rosewood Cemetery; a life well lived.

As published in Brandon Sun on Mar 06, 2021