Obituary of Mary Chmilar

Mary Chmilar (nee Zaozirny) of Calgary, passed away peacefully at the AgapÚ Hospice on Sunday, May 21, 2006 at the age of 90 years. Mary was born on January 5, 1916 at Naughton Glen, east of Edmonton. She was the fourth child and first daughter to parents Fred and Anna Zaozirny. At a young age, she moved with her family to Mundare where her father ran a store and butcher shop. Even though she was raised in town, Mary took every opportunity to spend time at her cousins’ farms. On February 28, 1935, she married Paul Chmilar (formerly of Mundare) and they settled on his farm at Berwyn, in the Peace River country. She spent the next sixty-seven years on the farm where she enjoyed a peaceful life. She sold her farm in 2001 and moved to Calgary to live with her daughter Jean and son-in-law Al Hill. Mary missed the north with a passion, but settled in to life in the big city. She was an avid reader of Canadian history and read the three daily newspapers from cover to cover. She enjoyed doing puzzles and was a keen Edmonton Oilers and Eskimos fan. While in Calgary, she became a great companion to Al and Jean’s two dogs, “Nicky and Princess”. They truly loved their grandma. Mary is survived by two daughters, Jean Hill of Calgary, Diana (Ted) Dackiw of Edmonton; two grandchildren, Kevin (Andrea) Dackiw and Karen Dackiw, both of Edmonton; sister-in-law, Cassie Hrynyk of Edmonton; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Paul, in 1988; son William “Billy” in 2000; infant twins Leonard and Rose Marie in 1936; mother, Anna in 1938; father, Fred in 1946; brothers, Bill in 1955, Joe in 1959, Peter in 1973, and Mike in 1994; sisters, Nancy in infancy, Nellie Maga in 1962, and Jean Miskew in 1998; son-in-law Albert J. Kostiuk in 1982, and Alfred R. Hill in 2005. Funeral Services will be held at Chapel Of Memories (9813 – 101st St., Peace River, AB) on Monday, May 29, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. Graveside Service to follow at Berwyn Cemetery, Berwyn, AB. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Alberta, 10985 124 Street N.W., Edmonton, AB T5M 0H9 Telephone: (780) 451-4545, www.heartandstroke.ca. In living memory of Mary Chmilar, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park, Calgary, AB. Arrangements in care of Chapel Of Memories, 9813 – 101st St., Peace River, AB Telephone (780) 624-2686.