Donna Lynne Fennuk

Donna Fennuk was born November 5, 1948. She was the first child to Doug and Bessie Graham of Leroy, SK. She was very close with her only sibling, Julie, who was very important to her. They were 10 years apart and Julie laughs that no matter their age, Donna was always mothering her. She attended Leroy Elementary and High School where she was an avid and talented basketball player. She was an active member of CGIT throughout her teens. After graduation she attended the Saskatoon Normal School (now the Saskatoon Teacher’s College) where she obtained her teaching certificate. During a summer break, while staying with a friend at Fishing Lake, she met Walter. They were married less than a year later on July 6, 1968 and had a fulfilling 56 years together.

They settled in Foam Lake where Donna worked at the pharmacy until they moved to the family farm south of Tuffnell. Donna and Walter were blessed with three children, Naomi (children Jesse and Montana Kobylko), Wade (Karmin George) and Chad (Barb Curvollo). Donna was very proud of her beautifully landscaped yard, huge garden and many flowers. She canned and preserved, made jams and jellies and was a wonderful cook. She made all the hard work look effortless. She would have the garden weeded and bread rising before we even got up for school. We all have fond memories of suppers in the field during harvest. She learned to master all the Ukrainian dishes that Dad loves. However, baking was what she excelled at. She always had home-made bread, buns, cinnamon buns and desserts. Her pies were amazing, they were never pretty, but boy did they taste great. Mealtimes were sacred, when she said it was time to eat everyone had better get to the table pronto.

As her kids grew, she started working part-time at Sears in Foam Lake. Donna also loved to read, which led to her dream job at the Foam Lake Library, where she worked until she retired in 2018 at the age of 70.

She always loved crafts like knitting and crocheting, but her passion was cross-stitching. She made elaborate Christmas stockings for family and friends, and recently finished a huge piece that took her two years, just to say that she could do it. Donna loved cats from when she was a little girl and her dad would sneak her cat into her room at night. She always had at least one house cat. And when she reluctantly agreed to let Dad get a basset hound puppy she fell in love with dogs.

Family was the most important thing to Donna. She never missed a single Christmas with all three of her kids. She was so proud of her children and grandchildren; she bragged them up to anyone who would listen. She loved the time the grandkids spent at the farm during school breaks and over summer. She used to take them to swimming lessons at the Foam Lake pool, and loved to watch Jesse play hockey, basketball and baseball, and watch Montana at gymnastics, dance and speed swimming.

Mom did not like being the center of attention and never wanted a big party for any celebration. But she loved a weiner roast in the back yard with family and friends. So, following her wishes, a celebration of life will be held at the farm during the summer of 2025.