From the Smoky Lake Signal, Wednesday, June 28, 1978

Mrs. Rose George

On Monday, June 12, 1978 Mrs. Rose George age 75 of Smoky Lake passed away. She was born on April 25, 1903 in Zudubrewca Chronwitze Ukraine and sailed by ship to Canada with her parents and one brother, when she was nine years old. They docked at Halifax harbour and trained to Edmonton. They came to Pakan when she was 13 years old. She worked for the Kernelsons and the Foresters doing house work and babysitting and they taught her to speak English. Her parents settled on a homestead in the Victoria district (6 miles south of Smoky Lake). Her parents arranged for her to marry Mr. George George who was a miner in 1919.

They had many hardships to overcome in the pioneer days. They brushed and cleared the land. In winter Mr. G. George worked in Brule mine Brule, Alta, while Mrs. George was left to melt snow all night for livestock and for the home and to split fire wood to warm their two room shack. They had six children. In 1935 George died at the age of 56. Being a widow wasn't easy. The oldest girl was 16 and the oldest boy was only 10 years old. At that time her family allowance was only $12 for 6 children.

They had sheep so she made quilts, carded and spun the wool, knit mitts and socks, sewed all the clothes and blankets, made pillows from feathers. She was part time barber cutting the boys and girls hair, and part time farmer.

As the years past the family grew up and got married. In 1954 she moved to a comfortable little home at Warspite and was busy all the time doing janitor work cleaning Warspite school. She had a bunch of chickens and flowers by the house, a garden, strawberries and raspberries. She was happy and healthy. Then one morning about nine years ago she suffered a stroke. She lost the use of one hand and one foot. After a few months that came back but her speech was impaired. She moved to the Smoky Lake Senior Citizens Home. When she suffered more strokes she was taken to the Lamont Nursing Home.

She passed away on Monday, June 12, 1978. Survived by her loving family of 2 sons and 4 daughters, Mrs. John (Margaret) Bodnar, Mrs. Bruce (Vel) Kimmel, Mrs. Mike (Paulette) Stolarchuk, Mr. Bill George all of Edmonton, Mrs. Earl (Jeanette) Van Iderstine and Nick George both of Smoky Lake, 24 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren. She is also survived by one brother, Mr. Peter Krytor of Edmonton, one half sister Mrs. Fred (Jane) Brodyk, and one half brother Alex Krytor both of Smoky Lake.

Prayer services were held on Friday, June 16, at 8 p.m. at Park Memorial Chapel, in Edmonton, with Rev. Norman MacDonald officiating. Then funeral services were held on Saturday June 17 at 10:00 a.m. at the Russo Greek Orthodox Church at Pakan, Alta,  with Rev. P. Kostiuk and Rev. Anothony Chilkowich officiating with internment in the church cemetery.

Pallbearers were John Bodnar, Bruce Kimmel, Earl Van Iderstine, Mike Stolarchuk, all son-in-laws and Al Yoeman and Nick Fotty.

 Russo Greek Orthodox Church at Pakan, graveyard

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