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From the Smoky Lake Signal, December 8, 1993. Anastasia Chemerys' 90th celebrated By Mary Sereda, her daughter There was great joy on October 23, 1993, when the children of Anastasia Chemerys: Paul and Elsie Chemerys, Mary Sereda, all of Edmonton, Evelyn Chemrys (Calgary), Cathy and Bill Chalus of Fairmont, B.C., hosted a dinner to honor and celebrate Anastasia's 90th birthday. Over seventy relatives and friends were welcomed by Paul Chemerys, MC, at the Smoky Lake Ukrainian Natiaonal Hall. The dinner commenced with Anastasia saying the Lord's Prayer in Ukrainian followed by grace in English by Cathy Chalus, her youngest daughter. Everyone enjoyed a traditional Ukrainian dinner prepared and served by the ladies of the Ukrainian National Hall. Paul thanked them for the wonderful feast. He the introduced Mary Sereda who gave a short family history. Anastasia Maskalyk was born on October 25, 1903 to Elko and Maria Maskalyk, who had arrived in Canada July 11, 1902 and pioneered in the Lower Level SD. Her birth was registered at Pakan, Victoria Settlement, NWT, as Alberta did not become a province until 1905. Anastasia grew up in a large family of twelve children. Three brothers: Peter, John and Leo, and three sisters: Waslena, Anne and Kaye have passed away. Present today is her sister Mary Dunford (Calgary) and her youngest brother Michael (Lac La Biche). She grew up at a time when there were no highways (only trails), railways, hospitals, schools, radios, or TVs. She remembers the Indians in a circle of white tents around the neighbor's lake (K. Skoreyko). The Indian women would come and ask grandma for milk for their babies. Anastasia married John Chemerys on February 1923 at St. Prokova Russo Orthodox Church in Edwand and in the spring moved to a farm, 1 1/2 miles north of Bellis. Here they cleared land and raised a family of six children: Elixabeth Tannas (dec. 1978), Peter (dec. 1926), Elias (dec. 1982), Mary, Paul, Evelyn and Cathy. Although we had no modern conveniences we grew up content that we had enough to eat, a warm house and a mother who sewed most of our clothes. She was a self taught seamstress, sewing since the age of nine, and many in the district wore clothing created and sewed by her. We have pleasant memories associated with those early years: blueberry picking excursions into the woods, July 7 picnic at Bellis, school festivals and dances, the closeness of good neighbors (the Jasinskys) and dinner every Sunday at Grandma Maskalyk's home. Our parents knew the value of education and insisted we finish high school. John died in 1960 but Anastasia remained on the farm until 1965 when she moved to Smoky Lake. Here she enjoyed her garden and flowers, played cards with neighbours and was very lucky at winning bingo! Her extended family today includes: 19 grandchildren (Norah Tannas and Cathy Monahan deceased), 24 great-grandchildren giving a total of fifty descendants. The youngest great grandchild here today is 6 months old, Bejamin, son of Dr. Brian and Cathy Sereda of Calgary. The oldest grandson is Robert Tannas of Athabasca. Her descendants have varied careers: two pharmacists, one doctor, fourteen school teachers, a bank manager, civil servants, dietary aide, computer analyst, legal secretary, farmers, airline pilot, RCMP sergeant, businessmen, song writer and singer. She takes pride in each and every one of them. Members of the family then introduced their children. Mary: daughter Margaret, son Dr. Brian, Cathy and Benjamin Sereda. David (Toronto) was unable to come but had sent happy birthday greetings to Baba. Paul and Elise: son Paul, daughter Nancy and Sgt Craig Watt, twin daughters Justina and Robin (Regina) Daughter Pat: Bill and Ryan Suter (Ft. Saskatchewan) unable to attend. Cathy and Bill Chalus presented their four daughters and families: Susan, Gino, Gina, Danielle and Cole Tarditi (Calgary); Karen, Stephen, Lauren and Kristian Neal (Calgary); Carol and Paul de Guise (Fairmont); Cathy and Ron Kinley (Calgary) newly weds as of August 28, 1993; Evelyn (Calgary); introduced herself and claimed everyone present as a relative or friend. Robert Tannas, oldest son of the late Elizabeth and Fred Tannas introduced their children: Robert, Carol, Alana, Lee and Jack (Athabasca); Fedora, Bill, Michael, and Jodi, Christopher and Jordan Marling (Edmonton); Ellen, Glen, Jeffrey, Wesley and Jennifer Neeser (St. Albert); Donald and Dawn Tannas (Bellis); Linda Tannas (Red Deer); Evely, Sandra and Curtis Zukowsky (Edmonton). Unable to attend were Margaret, Barry, Tanya and Amanda Jewell (Orrangeville, Ontario), Wally Zukowski, Bill, Megan, Klarice and Billy Monahan (Myrnam). Paul then introduced relatives: Red and Mary Dunford (Calgary), Mrs. Jean Maskalyk (sister-in-law) and son David of Kelowna, B.C., daughter Mona and Bill Ewoniak (Edmonton), nephew Elias Tanisychuk (Abee), and brother Michael and Kathryn Maskalyk (Lac La Biche). Unable to attend were brother Bill Marks (Long Beach, California) sisters Elan Mortimer (Seattle), Tillie Burger (Vancouver, B.C.). Evelyn introduced friends and neighbours: Pearl Wolansky, Doris Demchuk, Dorthy Troyer, Kate Mykytiuk, Mary Palamarek and Mary Krekolowich. Paul introduced Anthony Jasinsky (Vegreville) and Peter Goruk, former Bellis neighbours, who entered their best wishes and reminisced of the early days. Mary introduced her neighbors Bill and Eva Jasinsky of Edwand. Cathy then read out certificates and letters received by Anastasia congratulating her on her 90th birthday. Certificates: Nick Taylor, MLA, personally delivered and visited mother at the Bar-V-Nook Manor. Others received were from: Ralph Klein, premier of Alberta; Lt. Governor Gordon Towers of Alberta; then Prime Minister of Canada and lastly one from Governor General of Canada Ray Hnatyshyn. Deborah Grey, MP, also personally delivered a birthday card. Judy Derpack Gereluk (niece) sent a letter relating incidents of her childhood visits to the farm. Mary then toasted oru mother wishing her Chasky, Zdarowya YSto Lit (good luck, health and may you live to be 100). Cathy, aided by all the great-grandchildren, lit 90 candles on the beautiful birthday cake. As they blew out the candles they sang Happy Birthday to Anastasia. Anastasia thanked everyone for sharing her day, the birthday cards and lovely flowers and all their good wishes. All enjoyed the birthday cake and coffee, visited, looked over old family albums, family records, a family tree and had their family group pictures taken by Robert (Bob) Tannas. Everyone agreed it was a day we will always remember and treasure. The children of Anastasia Chemerys thank all who came, all who helped with preparations (especially Elsie) and God for the sunny day and blessing our mother with such a happy and fruitful life.
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