Obituary of Elsie Meachem

With heavy hearts, we, the family of Elsie Meachem, announce her peaceful passing on February 20th, 2025 at the age of 89 years.

Elsie Elizabeth Hrynchuk was born to Katrina (Katie) Hrynchuk on the kitchen table in Foam Lake. She lived in Foam Lake with her mother’s family (Baba Dora Danyluk), first generation Ukrainian Immigrants, a culture Elsie was so very proud to be a part of.  When Elsie started school, they moved to Runcimen, near Tisdale. Her family later moved to Choiceland, where Elsie completed her schooling while living with her mother, stepfather and siblings.  

After completing school, Elsie worked at the Bank of Nova Scotia until her marriage.

Elsie’s love story with Raymond Meachem of Moose Range began in 1951 at a dance. Raymond wasn’t even attending, but his eyes locked with Elsie’s through an open side door – he then bought a ticket to the dance, and the rest is history. 

Elsie married her beloved Raymond on November 11th, 1955 during a massive snowstorm, which delayed the service several hours. After their marriage they resided in Nipawin for a year before moving to Petaigan to farm with Ray’s brother Earl and his wife Kathy. In 1963 they purchased the home quarter across the road from Earl and Kathy, where they farmed until Raymond’s passing in 1993.

Elsie and Raymond welcomed seven children throughout their marriage: Kevin, Linda, Randy, Terry, Cheryl, Joyce and Gerald who were her pride and joy throughout her life. 

Elsie was an exceptional farm wife and right hand to Raymond. She excelled at cooking, baking, canning, gardening, knitting, sewing, and being a cattlewoman. She always did what was needed on the farm.   It wasn’t rare for her to keep a newborn calf in her porch or bottle-feeding one with her capable hands; gathering eggs from the chickens, or driving the swather, combine or grain truck during harvest. She ensured everyone on the farm was fed with warm meals during a hard days’ work. Every visitor to the farm was welcomed with a smile and endless cups of coffee. To Elsie, strangers were just friends she hadn’t met yet, and family came first, above all else. 

Elsie had a beautiful singing voice - singing hymns clear and true in church.   Later on,  she only let us hear her singing when she was rocking and humming to soothe a baby or toddler in her arms. Elsie had many hobbies but especially loved crossword puzzles and reading. She always had a puzzle or an open book close at hand to enjoy at a peaceful moment. This love of reading she has passed on to her children and grandchildren. 

Everyone that knew Elsie knew her as a kind, loving woman who was quick to offer a helping hand, or a listening ear. She never wanted to see anyone in need – offering emotional, spiritual, or physical help wherever she could. While life wasn’t always easy, Elsie would square her shoulders, take a deep breath, and face any challenge head-on. In addition to her grit, determination, and steel backbone, she had the softest, most nurturing hands that rubbed the backs of her grandchildren, and great grandchildren many hours over the years. Her patient, kind heart and sage advice will be cherished forever.

Elsie was predeceased by her beloved husband Raymond who was waiting to dance with her in heaven, her mother Katie, Stepfathers Andy Andruszko and Don Devlin, Sister Nadia  McKelvie, daughter-in-law Caroline Meachem, and numerous brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

Elsie’s legacy will live on through her beloved family, her children: Kevin (Shelly White), Linda (Chuck) Ingerman, Randy, Terry (Roxane), Cheryl (Steve) Urbanowski, Joyce (Darrin) Parcher, and Gerald (Tanya). Her Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren were such a source of joy for Elsie and she was so proud of every accomplishment and milestone in their lives: Johnny Thiessen – Berlyn Hounjet and Parker Thiessen, Chelene (Brian) Fehr - Blake and Quinn, Shelbi (Jesse) Trach – Tenley and Declan, Reid (Kaelin) Urbanowski, Kieran Meachem, Cole Meachem, Rashelle (Brycen) McCrea - Daxton, Kyler Parcher (Kori Doerksen), Ethan Meachem and Rylan Meachem. Her brother Walter (Sandra) Andruszko, and sisters Gloria Eutenier and Margaret Fannin, and sister-in-law Kathy Meachem will all dearly miss her.