Vera Shaskin

Mrs. Vera Shaskin, beloved wife of the late John Shaskin, passed away at Legacy Lodge due to complications arising from Alzheimer's disease on Wednesday May 17, 2023, at the age of 88 years.

Vera was born near Lyubotyn, Ukraine on July 10th, 1934, to parents Fedor and Anna Tyznenko. As a young girl, Vera liked to play outside pretending to bake and used the summer stove to make mud pies. Vera never slept long and would wake up early enough to have a piece of bread with her dad before he went to work.  

WWIl broke out and the German Forces occupied their district as the battles continued further East. The Nazi defeat in Stalingrad marked a turning point in the war. Soviet troops were advancing and forcing the German forces to retreat. Many Ukrainian citizens decided to leave their homeland rather than face the wrath of Stalin again. Fedor and Anna with daughters Dusi and Vera started their exodus from Ukraine in search of a better life in the summer of 1943 with a horse and wagon. To avoid possible capture and confiscation of the horse and wagon they stayed on side roads and small villages. They crossed the Ukrainian/Slovakian border in 1944 ending up in Wels, Austria. While in Austria, sister Luba was born and Dusi met her future husband, Henry Herasemluk.

After the war ended, many opportunities became available to leave Europe and start a new life in the western hemisphere. In 1948 Fedor, Anna, Vera and Luba departed Austria and flew to Venezuela where Fedor found employment on a sugar cane farm. Dusi and husband Henry left Austria and immigrated to southern Alberta to work on a farm. In 1950, Henry contacted Fedor to let him know that there were opportunities in Alberta for them. Henry found a sponsor for Fedor and later that year Fedor, Anna (very pregnant), Vera and Luba made their way to a farm near Chin, Alberta. Southern Alberta was full of immigrants from Europe with many of them from the Ukraine. As destiny would have it, in 1951 a mutual friend arranged an October Sunday afternoon meet and greet between John Shaskin, a fellow Ukrainian immigrant, and Vera. It was love at first sight as they were officially married in January 1952. Both Vera and John had strong religious influences in their lives growing up. Vera's parents were choir members both in the Ukraine and Canada and were instrumental in the formation and longevity of their local church. Vera lived her life focused on family and church. As a stay-at-home mom Vera kept the household stable so John could pursue a course for success. Vera managed with modest resources when they were first married sharing accommodations with John's brothers Walter and Steve even in a wall tent beside a grain elevator they were building. By the time son Mark was born they were living in a home that John, with the help of his brothers, had built. John was confident and had gained enough experience in the sand and gravel business that he started negotiating a deal to purchase a gravel crushing business that was for sale. In 1963, the deal to the purchase of Willow Creek Sand & Gravel Co. Ltd. from Ira Jones was finalized by John with his brothers as partners which is still operating as a family business.

Vera and John were married for 62 years. There were many times that Vera scolded him for coming home late after a little too much liquid socializing, or after spending hours sharing stories with either friends or strangers who quickly became friends. But Vera was always there for John, caring for him during his last years like she did during their entire life together. She took great joy in cooking and entertaining new friends, old dear friends and even strangers that soon became friends. Vera enjoyed socializing with friends and family, playing card games, dancing, hosting parties and attending large family get togethers.

Vera and John enjoyed travelling with many vacations to Hawaii and a special Mediterranean cruise. In Hawaii, you would find Vera walking for miles to go shopping or just sightseeing while John played chess at the beach. She loved to walk everywhere.

Vera is survived by her daughter Elizabeth; sons Ken (Tina) and Mark (Lori); grandchildren John (Jana), Dustin (Caroline), Thomas (Julie), Bradley and Jennifer; sisters Dusi Herasemluk, Luba Mclntosh, Linda (Dale) Stenbeck; sister-in-law Olga Shaskin; great grandchildren Rowan, Nathan, Channing, Marshall and Maren; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and their families.

Besides her beloved husband John, Vera was predeceased by her parents Fedor and Anna; brothers in law Henry Herasemluk, Stephen (Helen) Shaskin, Terry Mclntosh and Walter Shaskin.

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