Mary Odorski

SWIETLANA ""MARY"" MICHALENKO ODORSKI, beloved wife of the late Mr. Bronislaw Odorski, passed away at Lethbridge Regional Hospital on December 31, 2006 at the age of 78 years.

She is survived by her two children Victor (Marion) of Wetaskiwin and Helen (Brent) of Lethbridge, six grandchildren; Lisa Marie (James) Hutton, Jason (Jody) Odorski, Janelle (Liam) Stone, Joel (Alanna) Odorski, Kimry Schlacter and Chrissy (Dan) Martel; six great-grandchildren: Ava and Jade Hutton, Jordan and Cooper Odorski and Ngila and Beatrix Mary Stone; sister Agnes, brother Alex (Margaret), as well as numerous nieces, nephews and their families. She is predeceased by her beloved husband and her brothers Valentin and Yuri.

Swietlana was born September 17, 1928 to Eugenia and Boris Michalenko in Bialistock, Poland where she completed Grade 10. The family moved to Tarnow, then Italy and finally a refugee camp in Libert, Austria. Here Swietlana was employed as a caregiver to an elderly woman.
Swietlana came to Canada with her mother and sister and her family in 1948 and they settled in Kipp, later moving to Lethbridge. On January 22, 1949 she married Bronislaw. Swietlana took English classes and also completed Grade 12. She worked in various restaurants as a cook, as a caretaker at Hamilton Junior High School and housekeeper at Lethbridge Auxiliary Hospital.

Always a generous hostess; she enjoyed making traditional Polish food for family and friends. Her grandchildren knew they could always find a bog of perogies and cabbage rolls in the freezer to take home with them after a visit. Each summer she kept a garden and enjoyed making pickles. Each winter she made sure every grandchild had batch of cookies including a gingerbread man that she would decorate. In the spring she made sure each family member had a babka to enjoy and decorate at Easter. She was an avid knitter and crochet5er and passed many hours creating beautiful blankets, sweaters and table clothes.

Grandma will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
A Funeral Service will be held at 1:00PM on Friday, January 5, 2007, at MARTIN BROS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610 - 4 St. South, Lethbridge, AB, with Reverend Elizabeth Brown officiating.