Obituary of Martha BANIC

MARTHA CATHERINE BANIC (BONIC) (nee KRPAN) On January 13, 2009 Martha Catherine Banic, widow of Ivan Banic (John Bonic). Martha was born on the family farm near Bladworth Saskatchewan on March 16, 1915. She was the fifth child of nine born to pioneer parents Steve and Helen Krpan. Mom attended school at Silver Lake and at Bladworth High School. She later went to Nutana Collegiate and graduated in 1935 from Normal School in Moose Jaw, Sask. Martha also went to the University of Sask. and the Banff School of Fine Arts where she was a student of A.Y. Jackson. Mom enjoyed a lengthy teaching career in Saskatchewan and Manitoba and shared many stories with us about her early teaching days in a one-room school house on the prairies. In her early teens she was a contributor to the Young Co-operators Club of the Western Producer in Saskatoon with particular interest to the Nature Lovers' Corner. All contributions were under a pen name known as "Dolly's Cheeks". She was a member of the Bird Lovers League (England) and of the Audubon Society. In 1950, Martha married John in Winnipeg where they lived and raised their family, later retiring to St. Andrews. Mom was a most patient and loving mother to us, waking us up early in the morning to show us the many deer and fawns that would come to visit in the yard at the family cabin at Star Lake. She kept busy with vast correspondence and with her varied handwork and we will miss her baking and delicious pies. Mom was predeceased by her husband John in 1989, her father Steve in 1961 and her mother Helen in 1964, also by her brothers Phillip, Tony, John, Mark and Phil and by her sisters Mary and Millie. Surviving are two daughters Christine (Mile) Jurcevic and Marina (Richard) Drolet, two grandsons Michael and Mark who will miss their grandmother dearly, also survived by her sister Kay of Nanaimo, B.C. (formerly of Kamsack, Sask.), and by numerous nieces and nephews. We thank the Interlake Regional Health Authority, Home Care Program for all their help and support that enabled Mom to remain at home during this difficult time. Mom was always happy and glad to be in her own room at home, close to her family, maintaining her normal daily routine as best she could. Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, January 15 at 1:00 p.m. at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main St. Interment will follow in Glen Eden Memorial Gardens.