Lena was born and raised in the Whitesand District, the daughter of Michall and Donna (nee Popovych) Stefanyshyn. She attended White Sand School. She got her grade 8 and started grade 9, and the teacher said she couldn’t go any further unless she moved away to finish her schooling. There was no money for that. She quit school, much to her dismay. She moved to Yorkton where she lived with a family and kept house in exchange the lady was to teach her hair dressing. That didn’t work so well so she went to work in restaurants. She met Ed and they married on November 7, 1943. They raised their family in Yorkton. She went to work for the Yorkton Co Op in the cafeteria on September 1, 1966 and worked her way up to managing the West Broadway Café. She worked there until Ed got sick and she stayed home to care for him. She lived in the family home for a number of years after Ed’s passing. She moved into town and lived in a couple of apartments and eventually Queen Elizabeth Court until she could no longer care for herself. She went to Lake Side Manor Care Home on January 18, 2018 where she passed away.
Lena leaves to mourn her three daughters, Audry (Gerald) Leniuk of Yorkton, Judy (Allan) Filipchuk of Canora Beach and Sharon (Gordon) Hoffman of Lethbridge, eleven grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren and one great-great granddaughter. Also her son-in-law, Al Gill of Wilkie and daughter-in-law, Shirley Witherspoon of Yorkton.
Lena was predeceased by her husband Edward on November 23, 1982, son Robert at birth, daughter Donna Gill on December 21, 2005, son, James on October 19, 1995, eight sisters and one brother.
A Funeral Service for Lena will be held Saturday, September 8 at 10 a.m. at St. Andrew's United Church in Yorkton with Rev. Jen Dresser officiating.
Should friends so desire, donations in memory of Lena may be made to the Recreation Program at Saltcoats Lakeside Manor Care Home. Please make a memo on the cheque to "Resident Trust".