Lucyna Osko

Lucyna Osko (nee Wożniczko) of Lethbridge, beloved wife of Marian Osko passed away peacefully on November 1, 2020, the Feast of All Saints, eight days after celebrating her 96th birthday.

Lucyna was born in the village of Opatkowice Drewniane, Poland, the second of three children of her parents, Ignacy and Bronislawa. Her mother died of tuberculosis when Lucyna was only 2 ½ years-old and her year-old brother died a short time later. Poverty necessitated Lucyna to leave home to work as a domestic in the city of Kielce at age 14. At 16, Lucyna worked in housekeeping at a hospital in Kielce, where she contracted typhoid fever and became a patient there. After her recovery, she travelled to Germany to work for several years as a domestic for a well-to-do landholder. These years were during the second half of WWII. Insulated from any news of the atrocities occurring at that time, Lucyna did not learn of them until after the American liberation of Nazi concentration camps. Being displaced by the war and its aftermath, Lucyna was settled in a refugee camp in Germany, where she met her beloved husband Marian. They were married in 1946 and were blessed with their first son, Kazimierz, in 1947. The small family landed in the Turin area of southern Alberta in 1949 on a contract to provide sugar beet farm labour. They worked for a number of farmers in the Turin, Iron Springs, and Picture Butte areas until 1956, when they were able to buy their own farm near Picture Butte in partnership with another family. Lucyna was a dutiful farm partner who loved gardening, cooking, and baking. She produced bountiful vegetable gardens, preserving the harvest to feed her family over each coming year. Lucyna baked months-long supplies of bread, cinnamon buns, and numerous pastries. She was a splendid cook with a long list of favourite go-to recipes, but was always happy to try new ones to add to the list. Her primary love was growing flowers, starting many of them over winter and tenderly caring for them through the growing season in her magnificent flowerbeds. Lucyna and Marian remained on the farm until 2000, when they moved to a newly constructed home in Lethbridge, where she continued to grow both vegetable and flower gardens and cook up a storm. Lucyna dedicated herself to the service of her family, friends and community. No visitor left her home hungry. She had a hearty laugh, and no child could forget her smothering hugs and kisses. She had a child-like faith, accepting life’s trials through trust in God. Lucyna will be fondly remembered and deeply missed.

Lucyna is survived by her daughter Julia Palech (Don), son Terry Osko (Glennys), grandchildren Sherry Dieser (Lloyd), Brandy Osko, Alexandra Faucher (Bryan), Christina Palech, Erica Osko, Sarah Osko, and great granddaughter Grayson Dieser, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and their families. She was predeceased by her husband Marian of 69 years, parents Ignacy and Bronisława, brothers Jozef and Stanislaw, son Kazimierz, daughter-in-law Linda Osko, sister-in-law Zofia Wożniczko, and nephew Jerry Wożniczko.

Family and friends are invited to pay their respects between 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm on Monday, November 16, 2020 at MARTIN BROTHERS CHAPEL, 610 – 4 Street South, Lethbridge, Alberta.

Vigil Rites (Prayers) will be held at 7:00 pm on Monday, November 16, 2020 at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610 – 4th Street South, Lethbridge. Alberta.

A private Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 am, Tuesday November 17, 2020 at St. Basil’s Roman Catholic Church, 604 – 13th Street, North, Lethbridge, Alberta with Father Derek Remus, celebrant.

Due to the restrictions surrounding COVID 19, we require all attendees to wear a mask, and practice safe social distancing.

Interment will follow in the Mount Calvary section of Mountainview Cemetery.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Lucyna Osko, please visit our floral store.