Obituary for Victoria Stephenson
A Tribute to Victoria Stephenson
October 9, 1935 – Yellow Creek Saskatchewan
October 1, 2022 – Calgary, Alberta
Victoria (Vicki) Stephenson (nee Oleksyn) of 86 years passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on Saturday, October 1, 2022.
Vicki was born in Yellow Creek, SK on October 9, 1935. She grew up adoring her mother and learning all her Ukrainian family recipes. Vicki was proud of her hard work alongside her father on the farm; milking the cows, tending to the animals and the daily chores on the farm. She only attended school until Grade 7, where she then left to work on the family farm. While in school, Vicki demonstrated how talented of an artist she was; using only pencil crayons, she told the story of her childhood by drawing images of their family home, the school, farm animals and flowers. Vicki proudly told many stories of playing with her 6 siblings on the farm. At a young age, she and her family then moved to Carpenter, SK and resided in the home that their father had built with his own, storytelling hands. This family home still stands proud today. The family attended church together, where Vicki became a young girl of Christian faith that she strongly carried with her into her final moments.
As Vicki grew up, she left home in her early 20’s and moved to Saskatoon with her identical twin sister, Leona, where they both got jobs and started a young life of their own. After work, their oldest brother, Adam would often take Vicki and Leona dancing. Vicki worked in a café in Saskatoon, where she later met the love of her life, John Stephenson. The love between John and Vicki birthed their first son, Kenny Stephenson on July 26, 1961. Months later, the couple married on October 20, 1962, with immediate family present for a beautiful, small and intimate ceremony. She was married in a white suit and wore a white hat. On February 26th, 1963, Vicki suffered the tremendous loss of their first-born son, Kenny. The following October, she was blessed with her little girl; Elaine Colleen Stephenson (Gabel). Vicki was so proud of being blessed with her “little doll.” She would often tell the story of dressing up Elaine in white dresses and shiny white shoes whenever she would go out for their walk. On October 6th of 1964, Vicki birthed their son, Melvin (Mel) Nelson Stephenson. Mel was born with big blue eyes and long eyelashes. Vicki lost her son Mel to a tragic truck accident on September 2nd of 1992.
In the year of 1967, the young family moved to Calgary, Alberta and soon after, Vicki gave birth to her youngest son, Rodney (Rod) John Stephenson. Vicki always laughed as she told the story of giving birth to the “biggest baby” with Rod weighing in at 11 lbs, 15 oz. She was a proud mom and a dedicated homemaker, raising all 3 children on her own as John later took to truck driving. She was a protective, structured and dedicated mom. Vicki lovingly cared for her children’s every need by taking them on the bus to their doctor’s appointments, personal appointments and leisure trips, such as trips to the Zoo and to visit family in Saskatchewan. Christmas was a very special time in this young household. Elaine shares memories of going to bed and waking up in the morning to find the entire house decorated for Christmas.
As her children grew up and began primary school, Vicki got herself a job working at the Bowness Hotel as a chambermaid, of 23 years. Vicki prided herself on her work. She was a hard worker, she was dedicated and a favourite amongst the guests. She would often tell stories of her time working in the hotel with a smile on her face that told you just how much she loved what she was doing. Vicki and John separated in April of 1991, where she then resided in the Bowness Hotel until she moved into her trailer home in the Greenwood Village, just up the hill from the hotel. During Christmas of 1998, Vicki had a heart attack and stroke, retiring her career as a chambermaid. She then moved in with her son, Rod who dedicated 24 years to caring for his mom.
Despite Vicki only attending school until Grade 7, she was very resourceful and showed amazing intelligence throughout her entire life. Vicki’s life was presented with many challenges, but she was a natural optimist and saw life’s challenges as a lesson to teach her something. Those who were closest to Vicki, would describe her as “the most resilient, strong and inspiring little woman they ever knew.” She never complained and always had a positive outlook on every challenge presented. She was a problem solver and found a trick that worked for everything. She was highly organized; she had a system for everything and everything had its place. Most often, her things could be found with rubber bands and binder clips attached to help keep them together. Her home was always spotless and you would often find her on her hands and knees scrubbing every little crevice, including underneath the sofas and furniture. Vicki enjoyed spending many hours completing word searches to “exercise my brain,” she used to say. She was a talented gardener, a natural Ukrainian cook and a skilled baker. She adored her dog named Tiny, her two budgies, one of which she named, Melnyk and her fish.
Vicki was a devoted, loving and affectionate Baba (Little B) to her 3 grandchildren; Jesse, Tanya and Erin Gabel. When she wasn’t working at the hotel, you could find her with her daughter and her grandchildren. She would take her grandchildren to play at the playground, where she would be playing right alongside them on the monkey bars and up in the trees. Vicki laughed as she would teach them Ukrainian words. The smell of Dairy Queen and a burger with french fries will always remind her grandchildren of time they spent with their Baba. Vicki’s grandchildren share memories of her always having cookies in the cookie jar and chocolate bars in a gold coloured tin hidden in her bedroom closet. You always got a full chocolate bar whenever you came to visit. Vicki was fiercely in love with her great granddaughter, Layla. Even during the last few months of Vicki’s beautiful life, you could find her on the floor playing with Layla. She would always say: “Oh, you’re so cute” and “I love you so much.” They loved to blow kisses to each other and Layla would always reach her arms out to be with her Baba.
During the 24 years that Rod dedicated to taking care of his mom, an inseparable companionship was formed. Vicki would always be laughing at Rod’s jokes and his silly ways of being with her. They enjoyed walking together, sharing time listening to music and watching her reality television shows. In the final 3 months of her journey in her brave battle with cancer, her son Rodney tended to his mother’s every need. Everything that she had taught him was now reminiscent in the way he cared for her. She would always say: “I couldn’t ask for anything better.” In the final moments of her time with us here on earth, Rod held onto his mother’s hand with pure devotion and intention to fulfill his promise of taking her “right to the finish line.” Rod shares: “Home is where your mom is. I’ve been home for a very long time.”
Vicki is survived by her sister Ann Schneider, her identical twin sister Leona Hrytzak, her brother Terry Oleksyn, her daughter Elaine (John) and son Rodney. Her 3 grandchildren, Jesse, Tanya (Christian), Erin (Dylan) and her cherished great grandchild, Layla. Along with her sister in law Betty Haynes, her many nieces, nephews and cousins. Especially her niece, Annette (Mike) Markowski with whom she had a special relationship with. Vicki was predeceased by her late husband John, her son Kenny, her son Mel, her sister Mary and her brothers Dave and Adam.
Vicki’s personality was beautiful and everyone who had the pleasure of meeting her, would describe her as “adorable, kind and sweet.” Vicki’s infectious smile, contagious laughter and her sweet stubborn Ukrainian ways will be dearly missed. She was a devoted mother, a very special Baba, a playful great Baba, and a special friend to all who knew her. She has gone to heaven to be with her saviour, her family and friends. Vicki lived her life like she wouldn’t live forever and she loved her family fiercely.
“Remember the love we once shared. Miss me a little, but not too long, miss me, but let me go.”
To view and share photos, condolences and memories of Vicki, please visit www.choicememorial.com.
October 9, 1935 – Yellow Creek Saskatchewan
October 1, 2022 – Calgary, Alberta
Victoria (Vicki) Stephenson (nee Oleksyn) of 86 years passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on Saturday, October 1, 2022.
Vicki was born in Yellow Creek, SK on October 9, 1935. She grew up adoring her mother and learning all her Ukrainian family recipes. Vicki was proud of her hard work alongside her father on the farm; milking the cows, tending to the animals and the daily chores on the farm. She only attended school until Grade 7, where she then left to work on the family farm. While in school, Vicki demonstrated how talented of an artist she was; using only pencil crayons, she told the story of her childhood by drawing images of their family home, the school, farm animals and flowers. Vicki proudly told many stories of playing with her 6 siblings on the farm. At a young age, she and her family then moved to Carpenter, SK and resided in the home that their father had built with his own, storytelling hands. This family home still stands proud today. The family attended church together, where Vicki became a young girl of Christian faith that she strongly carried with her into her final moments.
As Vicki grew up, she left home in her early 20’s and moved to Saskatoon with her identical twin sister, Leona, where they both got jobs and started a young life of their own. After work, their oldest brother, Adam would often take Vicki and Leona dancing. Vicki worked in a café in Saskatoon, where she later met the love of her life, John Stephenson. The love between John and Vicki birthed their first son, Kenny Stephenson on July 26, 1961. Months later, the couple married on October 20, 1962, with immediate family present for a beautiful, small and intimate ceremony. She was married in a white suit and wore a white hat. On February 26th, 1963, Vicki suffered the tremendous loss of their first-born son, Kenny. The following October, she was blessed with her little girl; Elaine Colleen Stephenson (Gabel). Vicki was so proud of being blessed with her “little doll.” She would often tell the story of dressing up Elaine in white dresses and shiny white shoes whenever she would go out for their walk. On October 6th of 1964, Vicki birthed their son, Melvin (Mel) Nelson Stephenson. Mel was born with big blue eyes and long eyelashes. Vicki lost her son Mel to a tragic truck accident on September 2nd of 1992.
In the year of 1967, the young family moved to Calgary, Alberta and soon after, Vicki gave birth to her youngest son, Rodney (Rod) John Stephenson. Vicki always laughed as she told the story of giving birth to the “biggest baby” with Rod weighing in at 11 lbs, 15 oz. She was a proud mom and a dedicated homemaker, raising all 3 children on her own as John later took to truck driving. She was a protective, structured and dedicated mom. Vicki lovingly cared for her children’s every need by taking them on the bus to their doctor’s appointments, personal appointments and leisure trips, such as trips to the Zoo and to visit family in Saskatchewan. Christmas was a very special time in this young household. Elaine shares memories of going to bed and waking up in the morning to find the entire house decorated for Christmas.
As her children grew up and began primary school, Vicki got herself a job working at the Bowness Hotel as a chambermaid, of 23 years. Vicki prided herself on her work. She was a hard worker, she was dedicated and a favourite amongst the guests. She would often tell stories of her time working in the hotel with a smile on her face that told you just how much she loved what she was doing. Vicki and John separated in April of 1991, where she then resided in the Bowness Hotel until she moved into her trailer home in the Greenwood Village, just up the hill from the hotel. During Christmas of 1998, Vicki had a heart attack and stroke, retiring her career as a chambermaid. She then moved in with her son, Rod who dedicated 24 years to caring for his mom.
Despite Vicki only attending school until Grade 7, she was very resourceful and showed amazing intelligence throughout her entire life. Vicki’s life was presented with many challenges, but she was a natural optimist and saw life’s challenges as a lesson to teach her something. Those who were closest to Vicki, would describe her as “the most resilient, strong and inspiring little woman they ever knew.” She never complained and always had a positive outlook on every challenge presented. She was a problem solver and found a trick that worked for everything. She was highly organized; she had a system for everything and everything had its place. Most often, her things could be found with rubber bands and binder clips attached to help keep them together. Her home was always spotless and you would often find her on her hands and knees scrubbing every little crevice, including underneath the sofas and furniture. Vicki enjoyed spending many hours completing word searches to “exercise my brain,” she used to say. She was a talented gardener, a natural Ukrainian cook and a skilled baker. She adored her dog named Tiny, her two budgies, one of which she named, Melnyk and her fish.
Vicki was a devoted, loving and affectionate Baba (Little B) to her 3 grandchildren; Jesse, Tanya and Erin Gabel. When she wasn’t working at the hotel, you could find her with her daughter and her grandchildren. She would take her grandchildren to play at the playground, where she would be playing right alongside them on the monkey bars and up in the trees. Vicki laughed as she would teach them Ukrainian words. The smell of Dairy Queen and a burger with french fries will always remind her grandchildren of time they spent with their Baba. Vicki’s grandchildren share memories of her always having cookies in the cookie jar and chocolate bars in a gold coloured tin hidden in her bedroom closet. You always got a full chocolate bar whenever you came to visit. Vicki was fiercely in love with her great granddaughter, Layla. Even during the last few months of Vicki’s beautiful life, you could find her on the floor playing with Layla. She would always say: “Oh, you’re so cute” and “I love you so much.” They loved to blow kisses to each other and Layla would always reach her arms out to be with her Baba.
During the 24 years that Rod dedicated to taking care of his mom, an inseparable companionship was formed. Vicki would always be laughing at Rod’s jokes and his silly ways of being with her. They enjoyed walking together, sharing time listening to music and watching her reality television shows. In the final 3 months of her journey in her brave battle with cancer, her son Rodney tended to his mother’s every need. Everything that she had taught him was now reminiscent in the way he cared for her. She would always say: “I couldn’t ask for anything better.” In the final moments of her time with us here on earth, Rod held onto his mother’s hand with pure devotion and intention to fulfill his promise of taking her “right to the finish line.” Rod shares: “Home is where your mom is. I’ve been home for a very long time.”
Vicki is survived by her sister Ann Schneider, her identical twin sister Leona Hrytzak, her brother Terry Oleksyn, her daughter Elaine (John) and son Rodney. Her 3 grandchildren, Jesse, Tanya (Christian), Erin (Dylan) and her cherished great grandchild, Layla. Along with her sister in law Betty Haynes, her many nieces, nephews and cousins. Especially her niece, Annette (Mike) Markowski with whom she had a special relationship with. Vicki was predeceased by her late husband John, her son Kenny, her son Mel, her sister Mary and her brothers Dave and Adam.
Vicki’s personality was beautiful and everyone who had the pleasure of meeting her, would describe her as “adorable, kind and sweet.” Vicki’s infectious smile, contagious laughter and her sweet stubborn Ukrainian ways will be dearly missed. She was a devoted mother, a very special Baba, a playful great Baba, and a special friend to all who knew her. She has gone to heaven to be with her saviour, her family and friends. Vicki lived her life like she wouldn’t live forever and she loved her family fiercely.
“Remember the love we once shared. Miss me a little, but not too long, miss me, but let me go.”
To view and share photos, condolences and memories of Vicki, please visit www.choicememorial.com.