December 17, 1934 - September 12, 2020
With family beside her, Mom gently went Home on September 12, 2020.
Lydia was born December 17, 1934 near Lampman, SK, at home where her family farmed until moving to Vernon, BC in 1948.
In 1950 she met George Strecheniuk, quickly fell in love and they married on August 4, 1951. George worked as a faller and they enjoyed living in various remote communities, starting their own family.
After both the loss of their first born and the birth of their second in 1954, George took a job with Alcan in Kitimat and they settled, raised five children and were faithful members of the Redeemer Lutheran Church.
They bought an acreage near Telkwa in 1973 and spent many happy vacations there. Mom was a stay-at-home parent until most of the kids had left home, teaching Sunday School at times and participating in all church activities. She eventually took a job at Kitimat General Hospital for over two decades.
She was an old-fashioned woman with values that were acquired from surviving those hard years on the farm. We learned 'reduce-reuse-recycle' long before the phrase was coined... we learned to be thrifty, respectful and loyal.
George and Lydia retired, taking many trips to their property as well as to the North, where they loved the wide open space, quiet and wildlife.
They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2001. After George's unexpected death in 2002, Mom continued to live in their family home and remained an active member of her church. She travelled a bit to visit family members from Vancouver Island to Manitoba and, until her health slowed her down, was a regular visitor & driver for many shut-ins.
Mom is predeceased by son Ronald George 1954, mother Emilie 1957, father Adolf 1959, granddaughter Natalie 1975, husband George 2002, son-in-law Leif 2011, daughter Linda 2018, 5 sisters and 10 brothers.
She leaves 4 children: Sharon (Gary) Henderson, Debra (Doug) Johnson, Craig (Joanne) Strecheniuk, & Carol Larsen; 10 grandchildren Coralee, Shannon, Sarah (Stephen), Trevor (Trenna), Tamara (Jason), Natalie (Brad), Chelsea (Allan), Robert (Sara), Adam & Luke; 16 great-grandchildren Mataya, Jacob, Kylie, Breighton, Myles, Ayden, Brady, Taylor, Aaron, Jordyn, Lucy, Levi, Lola, Ava, Layla & Lincoln; 2 great-great-grandchildren Fauna & Emilie. A quiet family service was held at Redeemer.
Thank you to Drs Van Schalkwyk, Kay & Huang and the rest of Mom's care team for doing their best under today's difficult circumstances.
Mommy, we love you and remember you as the strong and independent soul that you are and you will be missed by many. Rest in true peace, Mom.
"Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life." Rev 2:10