Hilda ROMANSKI

HILDA FAYE ROMANSKI
October 29, 1939 - August 30, 2013
Tears are only rain to make love's garden grow
Hilda Fay Romanski (nee Collier) of Saskatoon, SK, aged 73, died suddenly on August 30th at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon from complications due to ovarian cancer. Her immediate family was at her bedside.
Hilda is survived by her loving husband Len; children Len (Heather), Mike (Lori), and Ray (Katherine); grandchildren Jessica, Hannah, Ben, Max, Ross, Beverley and Fraser; brothers Bud (Harry) Collier and Carl (Lily) Collier; sister-in-law Helen Zacharko, sister- in-law Kathy Collier (Turner); and countless nephews and nieces. She is predeceased by her father Harry Collier, brother Don Collier, mother Agnes Collier (Stiles), Sister Elsie Heggie (Collier), brother in law John Zacharko, brother in law Bud (Robert) Morrow, sister-in-law Marcy Collier (Mitchell) and sister Betty Morrow (Collier).
The sixth and youngest child of Harry and Agnes Collier, Hilda was born in Riverhurst, Saskatchewan and grew up on a farm near Lucky Lake. While working at Woolworth's in Saskatoon, she met the love of her life, Len Romanski. They were married in Saskatoon on July 7, 1962. Together, they began a family, raising three boys, all born in different provinces. Eventually, they settled back in Saskatoon where Hilda and Len started a retail business, Foster's Shoes, in 1980. Together, Hilda and Len pursued their love of travel with family and friends, including camping at Radium Hot Springs; trips to Australia, China, Europe, Costa Rica, Mexico; and cruises to Alaska and the Panama Canal. While Hilda loved traveling, she loved coming home even more; a prairie girl at heart, she adored the wide open skies of Saskatchewan.
Hilda had a passion for people and continued serving her community and customers at Foster's Shoes right up until her untimely passing. She would not entertain retirement, instead insisting that she wanted to continue doing what she loved, being with her staff and customers. Hilda saw her work as an opportunity to help people and got to know many of her customers as friends over the years. She was a member of the Broadway Business Improvement District and took pride in supporting local businesses, farmers markets, and various community projects, including the Good Food Box, Sum Theatre, and the Craik Eco Village. Hilda gave back to the community, campaigning and fundraising for the Diabetes Association, the Alzheimer's Society, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and the MS Society.
Hilda supported her family and children in all facets of their lives, from paper routes to beavers and cub scouts, schooling, sports and hobbies. She took great pleasure in buying her entire family entry into Albert's Annual Hockey Pool. She loved reading, cribbage, and the Montreal Canadiens and didn't mind putting a little bet on hockey or a cribbage game or even what time someone might arrive at the lake. Hilda loved to knit and was a member of a knitting club. She knitted many beautiful sweaters, socks, scarves and toques, and family members often found these special gifts under the tree at Christmas time. More than anything, Hilda loved animals, especially dogs. She had a special spot in her heart for her family of dogs over the years, including Jets, Bailey, Kayla, Brandy, Jigger, Tundra, Franck, Meeka, and Aspen. She even made room in her heart for Bella the cat!
Most importantly, Hilda had a gift for making people happy and bringing joy to others. She had an infectious smile and everyone who knew her, loved and spoke highly of her. Hilda had passion for life, seeing the best in people and situations and taught all around her how to be kind and have fun.
During Hilda's short time in hospital, she made visitors at ease and always had the staff laughing and feeling great about their work; demonstrating to all how to be gracious even under the toughest of circumstances. The family wishes to thank the incredible staff on 6100 at Royal University Hospital, especially: Sue, Holly, Laura, Jeff, Brian, Alfeo, Achie, and Jody. Also Tammy, Doreen, and Yan from City Hospital; Joanne from MD Ambulance; and Drs Anita Agrawal, Elena Tamarkina, Colin Gebhardt, and Ben Tan.
A Celebration of Hilda's Life will take place on Friday, September 6, 1:00 p.m. at Saskatoon Funeral Home, 338 4th Avenue North. Following the service, Hilda will be laid to rest at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens during a Catholic Rite of Committal. In lieu of flowers, please support Team Hilda, by joining or sponsoring us, as we walk in celebration of her memory on Sunday, September 8 at the Ovarian Cancer Walk of Hope, www.ovariancancerwalkofhope.ca.
Arrangements are entrusted to Saskatoon Funeral Home, 306.244.5577