Mary Grace MATIKO

MARY GRACE MATIKO
June 30, 1925 - January 29, 2018
After a two and a half year battle with cancer, Mary went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Mary was predeceased by her parents Jim and Oxuta Matiko; brothers Luke (in infancy), Stephen (Nadia), James (Carol); sister Emma (Walter) Raichuk; brothers-in-law John Campbell, George Karpow, Elmer Krivoshen. She is survived by sisters Esther (Walter) Gnida, Anne Karpow, Vera Krivoshen, Nuddie Campbell and brother Jack (Loretta) Matiko, as well as 17 nieces and nephews; 22 great- nieces and nephews, and 10 great-great- nieces and nephews. Family was very precious to Mary, she treasured everyone individually. She often hosted the family either at her home or the restaurant. Mary was a very generous and caring person. Mary took her schooling grades 1 – 7 at Balmae, grade 8 at Swastika, grades 9 and 10 by correspondence and grade 11 at Dixon School in Struan when Aunt Vera "hired" her to be her "cleaning lady". After grade 11, she attended Normal school and was given a Temporary Teaching Certificate for one year. She taught at Golden Valley and then went on to complete her grade 12 and five U of S education courses to gain a Permanent Teaching Certificate. The following 3 years she taught grade 1 – 8 at Haultain Rural School. In 1949, she was accepted into the Saskatoon Public School System and taught at Westmount for 5 years. In 1954 she followed her desire to be a nurse. In 1958 she and a classmate Glow Califas, went to nurse at the Medical Centre in Galveston, Texas. After 18 months, Mary returned to Saskatoon and in 1960 she joined the faculty of the School of Nursing – U of S where she taught for 31 years. "Caring for patients was a great love of mine", she said. Mary retired in 1991. To quote Mary, "My love is for my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ first and foremost in my life. One of my favorite scriptures is John 3:16 - 'For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." The family wishes to express deep gratitude to Marlene Matiko and Norma Coates for the loving and palliative care they provided in their home for Aunt Mary. Also special thanks to Dr. M. Terepa, Palliative Home Care – especially nurse Carolyn Engel, helpers and friends Donna Banks, Linda Senft, and special visits from Delores Derksen and Trygve Njaa. A Public Visitation will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. from the chapel of Martens Warman Funeral Home, 402 Central St. W., Warman, Sk. Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at Forest Grove Community Church, 502 Webster Street, Saskatoon, Sk. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Gideon International. Arrangements in care of MARTENS WARMAN FUNERAL HOME (306-934-4888).