Helen Bratushesky

Helen Bratushesky

November 18, 1928 - September 29 2015

Funeral Service

Rose Valley Lutheran Church

10 a.m.

Saturday October 3, 2015

Helen (Ilona) Kajati was born in the small mining town of Coalhurst, Alberta, on November 18, 1928, to Gabor and Julianna (Gegany) Kajati. She was the eldest of six children; she had two brothers, Leslie and Joseph, and three sisters, Mary, Elizabeth and Margaret. At a young age her family moved to the Kutawa District north of Punnichy. She attended Kutawa School, an old-style one-room schoolhouse, which still stands to this day. Because Hungarian was the language they spoke at home, she had to learn English before she could learn reading, writing and arithmetic. She attended school until she completed Grade 10, which was the highest grade offered there. In her teenage years, Helen started working as a housekeeper and babysitter for neighbours. She married George Bratushesky on February 25, 1952, and together they had three children: Gary, Myrna and David. They began farming north of Quinton and later moved to a farm north of Punnichy. After 20 years on the farm, Helen and George moved to Regina. After 10 years in the city, they moved to the Fosston/Rose Valley area, where they have since stayed. Helen was an avid gardener and it seemed she could make anything grow. Not long ago, she took care of three gardens: one at David's farm, one at Gary's, and her own in town. She and George used to make a weekly trip to do the weeding at each boy's yard. After George was no longer able to drive, one of her favourite things was to go "greenhouse shopping" with Myrna - once a year they'd head out on a spree to hit as many greenhouses in the local area as they possibly could. When they returned home the vehicle was always loaded full with potted plants and flowers. Helen then spent days meticulously replanting everything. This was her element. She was also an excellent cook and over the years prepared hundreds of meals for friends and family. Helen's basement pantry was always well-stocked with homemade preserves of various sorts. She had a lifelong involvement with the Trinity Lutheran Church in Quinton when they lived there and later at Zion in Rose Valley; her faith was one of the cornerstones of her life. She was very fond of her grandchildren and when they were young, she would often take care of them while their parents were out working the fields at harvest. It was always a joy for them to spend time at Grandpa and Grandma's. What Helen will be most remembered for was her kindness - she always had a kind word or a caring gesture and she was thoughtful of others. She lived a good life. Love you forever. Helen was predeceased by her parents, Gabor and Julianna (Gegeny) Kajati; brothers, Leslie and Joseph; daughter-in-law Donna; great-grandson Declan; brothers-in-law, Fred Yewsuk and Andrew Chudyk. She is lovingly remembered by her husband George; sons, Gary (Carmen) and David; daughter Myrna (Edwin) Plohr; grandchildren, Colin (Briony), Corey (Desiree), Owen, Kailey, Karren and Krizelle; great-grandchildern, EmmaLee, Noah, Maddex and Maevie; and sisters, Mary Yewsuk, Margaret Chudyk and Elizabeth Kajati.