Irene Ann Pidkowich (nee Fox), beloved wife of the late Stephen Pidkowich of Yorkton, passed away at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre on Tuesday, September 1, 2015, at the age of 80. Irene was born to Joseph and Dorothy (nee Walker) Fox on November 20, 1934 in Calgary, AB. Throughout her childhood, her family lived in a number of communities in Alberta including Calgary, Edmonton, Champion and Taber. It was in Taber that she graduated from high school in 1952. Irene took her nursing training at the Holy Cross Hospital School of Nursing in Calgary and graduated with her RN in May of 1955. She took further specialty training in obstetrics in Boston, MA. Her career as a nurse took her to Vancouver, BC, Calgary, AB, Ponoka, AB and finally to Yorkton, where she worked at the Yorkton Union Hospital from 1964 until her retirement in 1991. It was during her time in Ponoka that she had the good fortune to meet Stephen Pidkowich. They were married on October 12, 1963 and moved to Yorkton in February of 1964. They were blessed with four children: Barbara, Angela, Allison and Mark. Irene took great pride in her career as a nurse and especially enjoyed her time working on obstetrics. Even after being retired for more than 20 years, people still remembered "Mrs. P." from when they had their babies. What Irene loved most in life was being a mother and grandmother. She volunteered her time to organizations supporting the activities her children were involved in: Bandboosters, the Yorkton Music Festival Association and the Yorkton Figure Skating Club and Summer Skating School. She always looked forward to visits with her grandchildren and was interested in what was happening in their lives. Irene converted to Catholicism in her early twenties and her faith was very important to her. She was a member of St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church and the U.C.W.L. She participated in the Redemptorist Collaborator program and completed the Pastoral Care Lay Training Course. Irene loved to sew and was known to create matching outfits for her children when they were young. Her skills as a seamstress came in handy for all the figure skating costumes and dresses she made as well as for the Halloween costumes she sewed for her children and grandchildren. In her retirement, Irene joined the York Colony Quilter's Guild and she created beautiful quilts for her family. Irene was predeceased by her husband, Stephen (2008); her father, Joseph Fox (1990); her mother, Dorothy Jancsek (1994); her step-father, Steve Jancsek (1990) and her step-sister, Jean Watson (2012). Also passing before her were brothers-in-law, David Pidwick (1960), John B. Kachur (1998), Ken Cameron (2006) and Peter Pidkowich (2011); sisters-in-law, Mary Kachur (1995) and Victoria Pidwick (2002) and nephew, Allen Kachur (1997). She leaves to mourn, her children, Barbara Pidkowich (Terry Perreault), Angela Pidkowich, Allison Kapp (David) and Mark Pidkowich (Maryam Moghaddas); her grandchildren, Brandon and Danielle Prevost, Mercury and Lincoln Kapp and Raha Pidkowich; step-grandsons, John and Ed Kapp; her sister, Lois Cameron; sisters-in-law, Helen Tkachyk (Walter) and Mary Pidkowich; niece, Gift Kachur as well as many other cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Prayer Services were held on Friday, September 4, 2015 from the Chapel of Christie's Funeral Home in Yorkton, SK with Father Raymond Lukie, C.Ss.R. officiating. The responses were led by cantor, Collette Karapita and members of the Yorkton Ukrainian Catholic Choir. Requiem Divine Liturgy was sung on Saturday, September 5, 2015 from St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Yorkton, SK with Father Raymond Lukie, C.Ss.R. as the Celebrant. The responses were led by cantor, Ron Wizniak and members of the Yorkton Ukrainian Catholic Choir. The Cross Bearers were Mercury and Lincoln Kapp and the Epistle was read by Gift Kachur. The Interment Service followed in the Yorkton City Cemetery with Mark Pidkowich, Maryam Moghaddas, David Kapp, Terry Perreault, John Kachur and Danielle Prevost serving as the casket bearers. The Honourary Pall Bearer was Brandon Prevost. Friends so wishing may forward their condolences to the family by visiting www.christiesfuneralhome.com. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Christie's Funeral Home & Crematorium, Yorkton, SK.
