Petrunella Rose PANTELLA

Pantella, Petrunella Rose (nee Symak)
May 30, 1915 – January 28, 2017
With great sadness, the family of Petrunella Pantella (Pat) announces her passing at the Extendicare Home in Saskatoon during the early hours of Saturday, January 28. In our sorrow at her loss we are comforted in the knowledge that she passed peacefully in her sleep without pain or anguish after a long life of more than 101 years. She was an inspiration in faith, good works, charity, and great personal strength to her entire family and all those whom she touched. Pat was born on a farm in the Cudworth district and later, as a young child lived with her family for several years on farms in southern Saskatchewan. They returned to Cudworth where her father took up employment and she began school in 1923. With the passing of first her father and shortly after, her mother, Pat was orphaned at the age of 19 after being exhorted by her mother to care for her siblings and especially to keep her sisters together; brother Michael aged 15, sister Helene aged 9, and sister Ollie aged 7. Despite these tragedies when she was barely a young adult, Mom persevered in life and was able to obtain a teaching certificate so she could support her sisters. She taught for three years in country schools near Cudworth before being hired in Dana where she was to teach the junior grades for 24 years. Our Dad, Michael Pantella, was teaching the senior grades and soon after their meeting he was determined not to let this awesome lady escape his attentions. They were married on June 12, 1938 and together began a life dedicated to family, first raising her younger sisters, then caring for Dad's aging parents and also taking in a nephew all while raising their own family of four children and providing for their education. During this time teaching school was more a vocation than a profession and Pat and Mike shared up to 11 grades with as many as 60 students in the two room school. With the closing of the Dana school, Pat began teaching in the Bruno school in 1969 where she continued until her retirement in 1975. Throughout her teaching career she was a respectful and compassionate, though no-nonsense, educator and role model to all her students, treating them as extended family and earning the respect and admiration of her fellow teachers. After many years of retirement spent lavishing attention on children and grandchildren life threw Pat another curve with the passing of her beloved husband Michael in 1990. While not understanding why she was to endure another great loss, once again her great faith and personal strength brought healing. Pat lived on in Bruno for a few years in the home Dad had built, with her friends around her to lend support and actively participating in community life. Pat moved from Bruno to St. Volodymyr Villa in Saskatoon in 1997 making many new friends in a community of seniors including her two married sisters. She was also closer to her daughter Madeline who was always there to give love and support as well as looking after Mom's best interests. With declining mobility, Mom moved to the Extendicare Home in 2014 where her cheerfulness and thankfulness for life soon won over the staff and she was well cared for. Throughout her life, Mom was a true model of faith, hope and charity and a great inspiration to all the females of her extended family about what it meant to truly be a strong woman. Despite injury and reduced mobility she never complained and greeted each day with cheerfulness, thankfulness and generosity to everyone around her. She loved her entire family fiercely, was a staunch supporter of all their endeavours and faithfully sent out her gifts to all for birthdays or Christmas. Mom will be greatly missed and dearly remembered by her children Madeline (Morris Sluchinski) of Saskatoon, Eugene of Wakaw, Philip (Sandra) of Calgary and Daniel (Myrna) of Victoria; her grandchildren Michelle (Gerry Eberle), Michael Sluchinski (Cathy), Marc Pantella (Megan), Andrea (George McGeachie), Carmen (Greg Peccie), Janna (Chris Ryan), Danielle (Jeff Hagel), Nicole (Derrick Frechette), Robert Pantella, and Tyler Pantella (Becky); great-grandchildren Rylan Eberle, Jessica Pantella, Eugene Pantella, George McGeachie, Joshua Hagel, Jacob Hagel, Joelle Frechette and Julien Frechette, her sister Ollie Komanicki, her cousin Roy Lesyshen (Cathy) and many nieces and nephews and their extended families. She was predeceased by her husband Michael, her parents Anton and Mary (nee Bambuch) Symak, infant brother Morris Symak, brother Michael Symak, sister Helene and brother-in-law Paul Yuzwa and brother-in- law Michael Komarnicki. Her family wishes to express their appreciation to the Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate for giving shelter to Mom as she pursued her teaching credentials, to her friends and the staff at St Volodymyr Villa for many years of good fellowship and to the staff at Extendicare Preston for their compassion and cheerfulness during her last years. A Prayer Service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 2 at Park Funeral Home (311 3rd Avenue North in Saskatoon). The Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, February 3 at Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church (1202 11th Street East Saskatoon). Interment at the Dana Cemetery will take place later that afternoon. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make a donation to the Bus Fund at Extendicare Preston in Saskatoon (Attn: Trina Johnson). To share condolences and memories, visit www.parkfuneral.ca "Obituaries- Contribute". Arrangements entrusted to Greg Lalach, Park Funeral Home, 306.244.2103.