Obituary of Donna Stanek

Donna Kathryne Stanek was born in Rosetown, Saskatchewan on August 28, 1938 to Edwin and Gertrude Smith. She had 2 brothers, Mick born in 1927 and Gordy born in 1929, and her beloved sister, Edna born in 1941. There were 3 girls Donnas age who lived on the same block so there was always someone to play with growing up. They played outside, never in the house, went out in the morning, home for lunch and out again in the afternoon. The 4 gals were in the same grade all through school. When Donna was 10 or 11 the swimming pool opened in Rosetown, it was only a block away from her house, so everyday in the summer she was swimming and eventually became a Lifeguard. In the winter the favorite pastime was skating. As a child, Donnas mom sewed many clothes for her and her sister Edna, their only purchased clothes were shoes, socks and underwear, her mom even sewed their coats, knitted sweaters, mitts, etc. When Donna was about 8, she started to go to Sunday school at the Presbyterian church with a neighbor girl and her family, shortly after her mom and Edna joined also. When she was 12, she started to go to the United Church because there was a group for girls called Canadian Girls in Training (CGIT). She loved CGIT, and again her mom and Edna followed her. Donnas teenage years were good. Liked school she wasnt an A student but passed exams. Never once played hookey. Got along with her teachers. Donna had a best friend whom she had met the first day of school in Grade One, her name was Marian Crossman. She lived on a farm, and Donna fondly remembered sleepovers at her house. Mrs. Crossman was a shopper like no other. The Ladies Wear store in Rosetown used to order just for her, also she loved Saskatoon and often they would take Donna with them. Mr. Crossman would rent, what was called a Day Room in a downtown hotel, he would read and the ladies would be on the loose in the stores which may have sparked Donnas love for shoes. On these trips Donna always had a veal cutlet in the restaurant, it was her favorite. Donnas other good friend lived across the road from Marian, Diane Foster. The Fosters were very good to her, she went to Cochin Lake with them for a number of years. Jackie Hannay was a border at Donnas familys house. She was out of school and worked in the drugstore, her and Donna were good friends. Jackies boyfriend and Ron Stanek were good friends, and so low and behold Ron and Donna started dating. Ron was an electrician, wiring farms north of Rosetown and was active in sports especially stock car racing every two weeks he would race in Saskatoon and Donna would go to the races with him, she was always afraid he was going to get injured as it was a very rough sport. Ron and Donna often went dancing on Friday nights. Lots of country dances, all Friday night because they did not have them Saturday night as they would have to be over by 12am, because they did not dance on Sunday. On April 24, 1956, Donna married the love of her life Ron Stanek and shortly after they bought their first home together a little trailer. In September 1956, Ron and Donna welcomed their first of four sons - Don, followed by Tim in February 1959, Greg in May 1961 and Tracy in June 1966. Two years later, in September 1968 their daughter Michele would arrive to complete their loving family. In 1962, Donna and Ron had an opportunity to move to Dawson Creek, British Columbia. Mr. John Kahovec had two sections of farming land in Dawson Creek area and offered it to Donna and Ron on a rental basis. He told them there were some buildings: a hand-hewn log house, barn, sheds and granaries. Donna recalled that the house felt like a mansion, coming from a trailer where their family was only a few feet away from them at all times. It was the end of April when they arrived to their new home, so Ron was immediately farming while Donna tended to the boys and her first garden, struggled with the old wood stove in the log house and tried to get a lay of the new land. As you could imagine, it was quite lonely for Donna and Ron not having family and friends around so as soon as the crop was in, they began calling and meeting their new neighbours. Donna and Ron became highly recognized members of their community opening their hearts and their home to friends and strangers alike. It was always a safe place filled with love, where you would be greeted with a firm hand-shake or warm hug, a cuppa freshly brewed coffee or hot meal even if it meant their kids would get a few less potatoes, everyone was always fed at the Stanek residence, curtesy of Donna. The hosting continued, as Donna and Ron bought a quarter section of their own, and built a new home there, sold their farming machinery and joined the workforce in Dawson Creek. Donna worked for many years in the library of the senior high school and truly loved her job the books and visits with staff and students. She was known for her kind demeanor and wore glasses in true librarian fashion. Donna, Ron and their kids would often reminisce of the good ole days, when all seven of the family members would cram into the station wagon and head down to Rosetown in the summers. These long road trips would entail Donna smoking with all the windows up, no seatbelts, and kids quarrelling in the back with Nana Mouskouri or ABBA blasting out the 8-track. Meals in the field during seeding and harvest were also a fond family memory. For many years, Donna was an active member of the Farmington Farmerettes, a rural ladys group known for working together to sew, host teas, and raise funds for their community. She met so many lovely friends and neighbours, whom she would create everlasting relationships with. In 1985, Donna and Ron courageously hosted the Stanek Family Reunion it was the first really big one with over 100 members and in true Donna fashion she had everything sparkling, organized and was ready to host the event. This would be only the beginning of the many events that were held at the farm. The 1980s and early 90s brought many changes to the Stanek household. All of Donna and Rons children were married and all 18 grandchildren made their appearance. Donna really took pride in her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren she would gently brag about having 9 granddaughters and 9 grandsons a perfectly even split. Over the years, the family events continued and Donna was the heart and soul of these events Christmas, Easter egg hunts, reunions, sleepovers, etc. She would organize meals for everyone usually a turkey dinner with all the fixings or the family favorite ham and cheesy potatoes. And for dessert you could always expect her famous foam cookies and gingersnaps. If the event led to a sleepover, you would wake up to the smell of homemade buttermilk biscuits - cut from an old soup can and baked with Grandmas love. If you were lucky enough to be living near by, an Orange Chiffon cake would always be ready for pick up at Grandmas house on your birthday. She kept up to speed with all her grandchildren and great grandchildren via Facebook and FaceTime and was always in the know. Throughout the years, Donna taught her family many life lessons from how to give a firm hand shake, to the hat removal protocol when you entered someones home. On Saturday May 8th, 2021, Donna was reunited with Ron Stanek and all the friends and family who preceded before her. In her final months, Moms wish was to pass away in the comfort of her home surrounded by the love of her family. Her children and their spouses were able to accommodate her final wish. Donna will be fondly remembered as the matriarch of her family, also known as mom, grandma, grandmother, granny or grandma-great. Donnas kind heart, love for playing cards, hand written letters, desire for reading, tender gardening hands, fondness of peonies and sunflowers, lovely smelling perfume, cookies and hugs will be a reminder of her legacy and how important she was to her family. A private family graveside service will be held on Saturday, May 15, 2021 at 1:00pm wih a livestream from this page for anyone not able to attend. This page will be uploaded with the livestream video soon. Very Respectfully, Reynars Funeral Home & Crematorium