Our dear Mother, Mary Abolins died peacefully at the Dryden Hospital on September 1st, 2009, after stoically enduring the pains of cancer for several months.  A funeral mass for our Mother was held on Tuesday, September 8, 2009, at St. Joseph’s R.C. Church, with Father Luigi Filippini officiating.  Interment of ashes will take place at a later date with Father Al Campeau officiating.

On January 1st, 1924, Mom was born to Aniela Palka and Michael Maslach in Poland and immigrated to Canada when she was 13.  Without a word of English, she travelled alone by ship from Gdansk to Montreal where she was met by her mother and oldest brother.  Three years prior, her parents left Poland for Canada taking her four brothers and a sister with them, leaving a lonely 10 year old Mary with her grandparents.

Mom was overjoyed to be reunited with family, and after traveling by train from Montreal, finally arrived at Vermilion Bay, where her father rented half of the spacious section house for $5 a month.   A few years later, a mature bachelor, who was to become our Dad, learned that a young Polish girl lived in Vermilion Bay.  At an innocent age of 16, Mom married and they settled down on a farm in Barclay raising a family, farming and managing a small logging business for the next 24 years.

By 22 years of age, Mom had four children, worked hard on the farm and grew acres of vegetables.  Much of that time,  Dad was working away from home during harsh winter months, and Mom not only cared for us but for the farm animals and without electricity, running water, central heat, telephone, or a vehicle, proving her strength of character.  We remember when Mom would shovel our long snow-filled lane to the highway, so that Dad was able to drive to the door for weekends.

Our Mother believed in hard work, honesty, decency, and perseverance.  One example would be our blueberry picking memories.  With four kids in tow, we picked berries all summer, rain or shine.  With the extra income, Mom took the train to Winnipeg every autumn and returned with the finest clothing any child could possibly wish for.  Mom was always prepared, always organized, always in control, and never late and God help you if you were!

A few years following Dad’s death, a gentleman by the name of Edgar Abolins entered Mom’s life and blessed this family with his presence.  They married, worked together, building Green Acres Trailer Park, and retiring in 1990.  Mom and Edgar enjoyed “skidooing” with their friends, fishing and relaxing at their cottage.  For 69 years, Mom lived on the same Barclay farm, but in four different homes.  She especially loved and enjoyed her last home, being very proud of its park-like setting that was once an old gravel pit.

Mom regularly attended mass at St. Joseph’s Church, was a lifelong member of the Catholic Women’s League and truly enjoyed the friendships she made as a member of the Barclay Women’s Institute.

Mom was predeceased by her first husband Nicholas Ryczko in 1965, son Ronald Ryczko, four brothers (Joseph, Stanley, Alex, Edward Maslach), son-in-law Robert Mitchell and most recently, husband Edgar, in November 2008.

Surviving and mourning her loss are sons, Joseph Ryczko of Thunder Bay, Ted (Catherine) Ryczko of Belleville and daughter, Wanda Mitchell of Dryden.   Mom was blessed with seven grandchildren (David Ryczko, Angela (Mark) Vanderheyden, Susan Porter, Julie (Eric) Bacon, Ted (Mim) Mitchell, Lisa (Dennis) Larche and Patrick (Rusanna) Mitchell and 13 great-grandchildren.  Also surviving is her only sister, Theresa (Ken) Collins; brothers John (Leona) Maslack, Frank (Halina) Maslach, and Andy (Ardis) Maslack.

If friends desire, donations may be made to the Northern Cancer Research Foundation through the Stevens Funeral Homes P.O. Box 412, Dryden, ON P8N 2Z1. Condolences may be emailed to sympathycard@shaw.ca subject: Abolins

“Mom, you’ve done the best you could and we know your Maker has a special place ready for you.  He will look into your clear blue eyes and at your gnarled fingers and will say, ‘Welcome home Mary…..your hard work on earth is over’.  Mom, you taught us well.  We only hope we can follow the good path you worked so hard paving for us.  You have been the matriarchal rock that held all of us together.  Thank you for all you’ve done.  Until we meet again, may God be with you Mom.  Watch over us”.

Love, Wanda, Joseph, Ted and families