The peaceful death of Mr. Emil Matthew Saretsky, 86 years of Burr, SK occurred on Monday, December 13, 2010 at Humboldt District Hospital. Emil was born on his parent's homestead in the Burr district on January 18, 1924. He grew up on the family farm and attended Willow Ridge School. Emil helped on the farm from a very young age and continued through the years to work with his father, eventually taking over the daily operations. On October 26, 1959, Emil married Barbara Bergerman. They continued to operate the mixed farm and raised a family of seven on the Saretsky family homestead. In his younger years, Emil loved sports, playing ball and hockey. He also enjoyed curling and this sport he continued well into his senior years. He loved singing and for many years he and Barb were members of the St. Scholastica Church Choir. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and Carlton Trail Pro Life. Emil enjoyed nature and going for drives around the countryside, something they did as a family with small children and which they continued through the years. He was a very sociable person and enjoyed visiting with friends and family alike. He was also the family historian, keeping track of relationships up to several generations back. If you needed to know how someone was related, you just had to ask. For Emil, the most important part of his life was his family. He enjoyed a very close relationship with his children and grandchildren as well as his brothers and sisters and their families. Each and every person held a special place in his heart. Emil will be lovingly remembered as the "best husband and dad" by his wife of 51 years, Barbara Saretsky (nee Bergerman) of Burr and their seven children: Marie (Terry) Rath of Humboldt and family, Suzanne (Carl) Lueke and children Aidan, Bronwyn, Madelyn and Brogan, Terri (Maury) Simoneau and children, Toryn and Karver, all of Humboldt, Cynthia (Jamie) Ficko of Assiniboia, and Jillian Rath and Robin Rath, both of Saskatoon; Joan (Ray) Martin of Pense and family, Matthew Martin, Jessica (Lee) Stewart and daughter Josie, Vanessa Martin, and Maria Martin, all of Pense, Raye-Leigh (Rene) St. Godard and children, Ashlyn and Falon of St. Jean Baptiste, MB and Genevieve (Chris) Holmberg and children Nikolas, Taylor-Raye and Braden of Pense; Jacqueline Saretsky and son Luke Saretsky, both of Saskatoon; Alexander (Juanita) Saretsky and family, Jared, Alyssa and Kaitlyn Saretsky, all of Burr; Emily (Lawrence) Hill and family, Jesse, Jenna, Angelica, Joan and Kerry Hill, all of Burr; Timothy (Maureen) Saretsky of Burr and family, Margaret (Daniel) Rizzo and children, Stephanie and Sean and Daniel (Angeles) Harold and daughter Adrianna, all of California, Kenneth, Thomas, Patrick, Elizabeth, Monica and Brigid Harold, all of Burr; and Kathryn (Daniel) Duffley and family, Anna, Liam, Kirk and Shae Duffley, all of Burr; two brothers and four sisters: Anne Smith and Cecilia Blanch, both of Humboldt, Jacob Saretsky of Peterson, Agnes (Maurice) Vinet and Felix (Lorraine) Saretsky, all of Saskatoon and Joan Pritchard of Victoria, BC; two sisters-in-law, Veronica Saretsky of Humboldt and Yvonne Saretsky of Richmond, BC as well as members of the Bergerman family and numerous nieces and nephews. Emil was predeceased by his parents, Alex and Anna (nee Gursky) Saretsky; granddaughter, Rebecca Duffley; three brothers and three sisters: Madeline (Homer) Nesbitt, George Saretsky, Rudi Saretsky (in infancy), Rudy Saretsky, Mildred (Frank) Klassen and Lenore (Ralph) Neis; brothers-and-sisters-in-law: Vern Smith, Leo Blanch, Mary Saretsky and Ray Pritchard. The Prayer Service for Emil was held on Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Scholastica Roman Catholic Church, Burr, led by Jordan and Donna Lee Bergerman. Scripture readers were Marie Rath and Terri Simoneau, intentions were read by Kathryn Duffley and the eulogy was given by Joan and Ray Martin. The Funeral Mass was held on Friday, December 17, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church, Humboldt, celebrated by Fr. Emile April. Others taking part in the mass were: crossbearer, Angelica Hill; altar servers, Kaitlyn Saretsky and Liam Duffley; readers, Juanita Saretsky and Ray Martin; intentions, Jacqueline Saretsky; and gift bearers, Alex Saretsky and Tim Saretsky. An Honor Guard was formed by members of the Knights of Columbus. Pallbearers were Luke Saretsky, Robin Rath, Jillian Rath, Jared Saretsky, Matthew Martin and Jesse Hill. Interment followed in the St. Scholastica Cemetery. Memorial donations in Emil's memory may be made to Carlton Trail Pro Life. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Malinoski & Danyluik Funeral Home, Humboldt, SK.
Words cannot express our heartfelt thanks and appreciation for all the love and support we received at the loss of our husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather Emil Saretsky.Thank you to Connie of Malinoski & Danyluik and her team for their professional concern and compassion.Thank you to Betty Possberg and the Burr ladies who organized and served the funeral lunch.A special thank you to Dr. Ockbazghi for your ongoing care and concern. You helped to achieve an extended quality of life for Emil.To the nursing staff on 1st floor medicine, for your care and compassion, and the way you took us all under your wing.To Cheryl Korte, Spiritual Care and the Palliative team, you are truly angels of mercy. Receiving the Eucharist was very important to Emil.To Fr. Daniel for your spiritual care and going above and beyond the call of duty.A big thank you to Fr. Emile for your inspiring service and homily.To Michelle Peters and the St. Scholastica choir for your angelic music. Emil would have been so proud of all of you.Thank you also to the Knights of Columbus honor guard; to Jordan and Donna Lee Bergerman for leading the prayer service; to Dale and Carol Bergerman for their help as Eucharistic Ministers; to Ray and Joan Martin for your heartfelt eulogy; to Danish Oven Bakery for your generosity and delicious baking; Humboldt Florist for the beautiful floral arrangement; and to all our families, friends and relatives for your expressions of sympathy and support.Finally, a big thank you to God for blessing us with a special husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend who was truly a beacon of light for all of us.Barbara Saretsky and Families