Felicya Teresa CHETERBOK

CHETERBOK, Felicya Teresa
(nee Warczycki)
April 11, 1927 - Niemirow nad Bugiem, Poland
April 23, 2015 – Calgary, Alberta
A Requiem Mass will be held at St. Anthony's Catholic Church (5340 - 4th Street S.W.) on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. Graveside Service to follow at Saint Mary's Cemetery. Felicya Cheterbok passed away on April 23, 2015 at the age of 88 years. Born April 11, 1927 in the village of Niemirow nad Bugiem in eastern Poland, Felicya was the first of seven children. Regular life ended in 1939 as the Nazis occupied Poland. She survived as the eastern front crossed the village and retreated, although scarred by experiences including picking up her beloved grandmother's bones after her house was struck by a Nazi bomb. In 1946 she married the great love of her life, Wac?aw Saciuk and bore Julie, followed in due course by Christina and Stanley. In 1959 the family immigrated to Canada and settled in Winnipeg where Felicya bore Halyna. Tragedy struck two months later, when Wac?aw died suddenly of a heart attack. Felicya kept the family together and provided food and shelter as she worked as a cleaning lady and eventually as a short order cook at Salisbury House, then the Saint Boniface Hospital. Despite financial hard times, Felicya always made a glorious Christmas for her children, and in the summer there were frequent trips to Sargent Park Outdoor Swimming Pool. In 1973 Felicya married Andrew Cheterbok, a retired farmer from Alberta and they settled in Calgary. Felicya was widowed a second time in 1981. She lived near her two daughters Julie and Halyna until 2013, when her health declined and she moved to Tudor Manor in Okotoks. Although hesitant to join activities, she was always friendly and generous to the staff, who enjoyed her company. On her 88th birthday, Felicya suffered a stroke and was treated at the South Calgary Campus Hospital. Felicya had a fierce spirit and was affectionately known as the Little General. She loved animals and children, was a superb gardener, and was generous when circumstances allowed. Felicya was an extremely talented landscape oil paint artist who painted many large canvases of her beloved Rocky Mountains. She drew tremendous comfort from her faith. Felicya is survived by her best friends and dearest companions, daughters Julie and Halyna. She is also survived by children Christina (Alex and Lori) and Stanley (Ian and Neil); brother Franek and his wife Teresia, sister Celina and their children. Condolences may be forwarded through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Alberta, 100, 119 – 14th Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 1Z6 Telephone: (403) 264-5549, www.heartandstroke.ca. The family would like to make a special thank you to everyone at Tudor Manor and South Health Campus. In living memory of Felicya Cheterbok, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park.