Surrounded by love, Phyllis Graden (nee Sywenky) slipped away at home in the early morning of April 28, 2017. In her 73 years of life, Phyllis created countless memories for her family and friends to cherish.
This feisty, determined and outspoken mother of three was a warrior in her battle until the end. She loved and protected her family fiercely and taught her boys to be loving, caring and hard-working people through her own example. She loved her coffee in the morning, sewing clothes for her family, playing cards and games, crab dinners and winning at the casino! She could have been known as the cat-whisperer with her talent for and patience in befriending and loving even the toughest of cats. When her favorite cat Ichabod passed away, she quickly found Jezebel who brought her joy and kept her company throughout her illness. Phyllis was a voracious reader, enjoyed going to shows, listening to her favorite singers like Nana Mouskouri and Harry Belafonte and travelling abroad with Wayne and the boys. Most recently, she went to San Antonio, the Alamo and Las Vegas with Ron and Terry for Christmas, a special time for them all. Being the family historian and story teller, Phyllis had a particular interest in historical places like the Alamo and chose that location specifically for this trip.
Phyllis was born in Mannville, Alberta on January 17, 1944 to Mary and Bill Sywenky. She spent her childhood on the farm avoiding the ‘girl’s job’ of cooking in the kitchen; preferring to work in the fields with her dad. Although she hated cooking, Phyllis had a real talent for making tasty cabbage rolls and delicious Saskatoon berry pies. Once she left the farm, Phyllis began a long career in the telecommunications field working her way up from customer service to programmer before she retired around 2002. It was at Alberta Government Telephones, that Phyllis met her life partner and true love, Wayne Graden. They married on October 30, 1964 and began raising their three loving sons. They settled in St. Albert where they had a family home for many years. After the boys left home, Phyllis and Wayne moved to Beaumont, Alberta to become part of a small town community once again. In January 2002, Wayne passed away and Phyllis moved back to Edmonton where she worked part-time, raised her kitties, and enjoyed time with family.
Phyllis is predeceased by her husband Wayne, sister and brother-in-law Annie and Felix Beaudette, brother-in-law Harvey Penno, and her parents, Bill and Mary Sywenky. She will be greatly missed by her boys, Terrance, Ronald (Lisa), and Darren, her sisters Elizabeth Rudkowski (Ken), Elsie Dutchak (Pete), her younger brother Ernie Sywenky (Vivian), her in-laws Lynda Penno, Myrna and Chuck Gagne as well as many extended family and friends. She had a significant place in her heart for Danielle and Alexandra, her caregivers who became special friends and the family is grateful for your kindness.
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