Hilda Rose Ludwar (nee Kwasnicki)
July 25, 1924 ~ May 16, 2014
Hilda Rose Ludwar (nee Kwasnicki) passed away peacefully after a courageous battle with cancer, with her family by her side, on Friday, May 16, 2014 at the age of 89 years.
Hilda was born at home in Bayard, Saskatchewan on July 25, 1924. Life was not easy growing up during the Depression on the prairies. Being the oldest in the family was a big responsibility and helping each other was very important to the whole family. Hilda and her siblings attended Stefan (Scout Lake) School. In her late teens Hilda worked on the floor at the Providence Hospital while earning her Grade 11 and 12 and began Assistant Lab Technician work.
She married Albert Ludwar on July 25, 1944 and they honeymooned in Niagra Falls, ON. They began farming; hard work and family help enabled them to prosper even after losing their first home to fire. Their first three children were raised in Scout Lake, SK and the other three came along in Maxstone, SK. In 1968 they went from wheat to dairy farming by purchasing property and building a new house in Lister, BC. Hilda was very proud that she did all the painting and staining in the house herself. She worked on the farm until 1978 when she started cooking at the old Clubhouse at the Golf Course. She was pleased to be the Clubhouse Manager when the new building opened in 1982. Hilda enjoyed the people and catered many meals at ‘The Club’. She retired in the fall of 1989. People still say they miss her great cooking - for which she credited to learning from her mother.
She moved to town in 1986 continuing to keep busy by taking in family, boarders and hockey billets. Hilda travelled to Jamaica, Florida, Arizona, California, Nevada and many parts of Canada and was thrilled to take two of her grandchildren to Denver, Colorado to see the Pope.
She enjoyed gardening, driving, playing bridge, golfing, flower arranging, rug hooking, knitting and crocheting. Many of the projects she made are treasured by her family. One of her ultimate joys was becoming a grandmother and great-grandmother. Hilda said she was getting greater and greater!In 2007, diminishing eyesight made her decide to relocate to her daughters’ in Yahk, BC. She enjoyed the birds and her flowers on her deck by the river. A very independent person, she lived in her own home until her illness.
For someone so small, Hilda was a very brave, strong and sassy woman. She had a sense of humour to the end and will be loved and missed by her family forever.
Notably, Hilda received her 25 and 50 year Service Pins for the CWL, taught Catechism and was an advocate of Pro Life.
Predeceased by parents Michael (1971) and Michaelina (1996); brothers Alfred (1946), Larry (2006), Richard (2008) and Arthur (2008) Kwasnicki; sisters Rita Champagne (1983), Olivia Heagy (1996) and Mary Kwasnicki-Harris (2002); husband Albert Ludwar (1984); son-in-law Dexter Fedechko (2013); and grandchildren Braidy Ludwar (1992) and Kael Vance (2005).
Survived by siblings Cecile (Glen) Rasmussen: Weyburn, SK, Frieda Russel: Grand Forks, BC, Ludvina Crosby: Edmonton, AB, Josefina Dobos: Cranbrook, BC, Carl (Karen) Kwasnicki: Castelgar, BC, Raymond (Elaine) Kwasnicki: Sandspit, BC, Mickey Kwasnicki: Winlaw, BC and Tony Kwasnicki: Nanaimo, BC; children Dwayne (Denise) Ludwar: Lister, BC, Brenda Umscheid (Ron): Rocky Mtn House, AB, Grant (Rhonda) Ludwar: Lister, BC, Penny Fedechko: Yahk, BC, Garth Ludwar (Tiina): Creston, BC and Jocelyn (Andy) Boots: Yahk, BC; 26 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren and various nieces, nephews and surviving in-laws.
The Funeral Service was held on Saturday May 24, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Church with Father Tom Kakkaniyil officiating.
After the service, a lovely luncheon was served by the Catholic Women's League. A private family interment followed at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Erickson, BC.
Memorial Contributions may be made to BC Cancer Foundation, 601 West 10th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3.