ELMER O'BYRNE

O'BYRNE, Elmer Arthur November 17, 1922 November 5, 2011 Elmer passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 5, 2011 just 12 days before his 89th birthday. Family members kept a 24 hour vigil for 14 days; an offering of love to return the love he gave to them during his life. He was predeceased by his parents Arthur and Ida (McFall) O'Byrne; all his brothers and sisters: Lionel (Sophie), Robert (Margaret), Cecil (Pearl), Helene (Phillip) Scheibel, Mildred O'Byrne and Evelyn (Jim) Deausy; stepbrother Meredith Golden; his in-laws: Jack (Phyllis) Kosior, Val Kosior, Sim (Nora) Kosior and Mike Romanowich; and his greatgrandchildren Stephen and Anne Rite. Elmer is survived by Viola Mary, his loving wife of 65 years (October 29, 1946); his children: Connie (Anthony), Barbara Christensen, Norman (June), and Patrick (Melinda); his grandchildren: Denise (Ray) Rite, Collin O'Byrne, Crystal O'Byrne, Kevin O'Byrne, Starla (Lorne) Bilkowsky and Kalen (Bianca) Christensen; his greatgrandchildren: Ethan Rite, Brendan Rite and Kloey Christensen; in-laws: Vera (Terry) Brown, Monica Romanowich, Leo Kosior and Kit Kosior; as well as many nephews and nieces. Elmer was born on his parent's farm near Wilcox, Saskatchewan. His mother Ida passed away when he was two-and-a-half years old. Elmer attended elementary school at Yankee Ridge and high school at Athol Murray College of Notre Dame. Elmer enlisted in the Navy in October 1942 and graduated as a wireless operator. He was temporarily assigned to an old destroyer, the St. Francis, and then to a new frigate, the HMCS Springhill which protected convoys from German U-boat attacks. He traveled 200,000 miles in the line of duty. On St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 1943, he proudly feasted his eyes on the shores of Ireland, the land of his ancestors. After the war ended, Elmer started his farming career. By 1960 he was farming two-anda-quarter sections, one being 55 miles from the family farm. Elmer was active in the Wilcox community. He was a HAM radio operator, St. Augustine Parish secretary, Yankee Ridge School trustee, a Saskatchewan Wheat Pool committee member, a Big Brother and taught Morse Code to the Wilcox Boy Scouts. He was the manager of the Regina Curling Club for two years and met curlers from around the world when the club hosted the Silver Broom world curling championships. At 55, Elmer successfully passed his Real Estate and Brokers exams specializing in farm and residential sales for Campbell and Haliburton then Block Brothers Central. He received many sales awards and earned a three week Hawaiian holiday. Elmer was an excellent swimmer and enjoyed RVing, boating, fishing, curling, boxing, lacrosse, hunting and shooting skeet. Elmer and Vi travelled to Niagara Falls and Yellowstone National Park, took a cruise through the Inland Passage, BC, had a three week Golden Anniversary Vacation in Phoenix, Arizona and a 10 day "dream vacation" on Vancouver Island. Elmer's strong Catholic faith was lived out and known to all his family and friends by his loving kindness, understanding and respect which he gave to all: a true gentleman. Special thanks to Dr. Moustapha and Dr. Van Heerden and all the General Hospital Unit 3F nurses and staff for your care and compassion to Elmer and kindness extended to his family. A FUNERAL MASS will be celebrated at Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, 5020 Sherwood Drive, Regina, SK on Friday, November 11, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. Interment at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Elmer may be made to Souls Harbour Rescue Mission, 3535 8th Avenue, Regina, SK S4T 0T6 or Habitat for Humanity, 1740 Broder Street, Regina, SK, S4N 2H7. Family and friends are invited to sign the online obituary and tributes page at www.regina-memorial.ca Arrangements entrusted to