Phyllis Babchuk (nee Orr)
1963 – 2017
Phyllis “Gail” Babchuk (nee Orr) passed away Friday, May 5, 2017 at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon. Gail was born to parents, Mildred & Allan Orr and was raised on the farm in Unity. She graduated high school in 1980 and went on to work several years as a waitress. She married Mark Babchuk in 1995 in North Battleford, where they have lived since that time. Gail was a housewife and mother whose children were her pride and joy- Cheyenne, Robert, Brandon, and Shane. In her earlier years growing up on the farm in Unity, she enjoyed gathering eggs, swinging on the barn rope onto the bales below, rolling down the hill in an old oil barrel, playing baseball, kick the can & red light green light. Gail helped her mom a lot in the house and enjoyed cooking, baking, mowing the lawn, planting flowers, and dancing while she was able to, crosswords, solitaire and she loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. Gail never “beat around the bush”, she was always direct and to the point… she was completely honest about how she felt (whether you liked it or not!). She ended up with COPD 12 years ago and has struggled with health issues since. We estimate that she was in and out of ICU at least 20 times and amazed us every time she pulled through; she was such a strong woman! Being on oxygen 24/7 was no fun for her and it truly limited the activities she could partake in. She could barely walk across the kitchen the last few years as she would run out of air to do so, but she was a true fighter and even with these struggles she did not give up – she had a will to live like no one we’ve ever known- right to the end. Gail was predeceased by her brother, Christopher; her dad, Allan; her sister in law, Lorelei; her step fathers, Jim and Roald; her grandparents (very special grandmother being Mary Ann Rahm); and several aunts and uncles. Gail will be lovingly remembered by her husband, Mark; her children, Cheyenne (Tyson), Robert, Brandon (Shauna), and Shane (Brigitte); her mother, Mildred Worrall; siblings, James Orr, Patricia Orr (Ben Richard), and Carolyn Huber (Mike); her grandchildren; several nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles. The Memorial Service was held on Saturday, May 13th, 2017 at 1:00 PM from Wilkie United Church. Interment followed at the Wilkie Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Canadian Lung Association. The family would like to sincerely thank the staff at BUH ICU department for looking after Gail so well the many times she was in hospital, and the caring, loving & gentle staff at RUH ICU who made her last few days as comfortable as possible. A sincere thank you as well to family and friends for your support and condolences- your kindness will always be remembered. Arrangements are entrusted to Lisa Bos, Hillcrest Funeral Home, Saskatoon, SK (306-477-4400).
