On New Year's Day, 1932, in Ceylon Saskatchewan, Agnes Mary was the fourth child born to Peter & Elizabeth Ortman. At the age of 5, they moved to a farm in Khedive district & then into a house built by her father in Khedive. She would remain here until she married Eugene.
Her childhood on the prairies included burying frogs in matchboxes, drowning gophers with her brother, Joe, planting gardens, feeding chickens, lots of chores, helping out neighbours, Sunday church services and a favourite was reading and writing stories with her best friend, Ruth, on route to and from her beloved school.
Folks said she was very smart, extremely talkative and fearless. She guarded her older sister, Teresa through any and all her fears, like going to the outhouse in the black of night. As a young child, she jumped a fence to confront a grown man who was mistreating a child. She taught catechism in her sister's place to students much older than herself and took over the school room in Khedive when the teacher left on sick leave. For this, she was delighted to have been paid. She longed to be a teacher but there were no funds for university.
When Eugene arrived in Khedive as 1st man CPR Railroad crew, Anges told her friends the first time she saw him that they didn’t have a chance, he was hers! And so it was for 58 years of their lives. 60 counting the courting.
Agnes claimed her love for work, and pride in her accomplishments. Love for learning and interest in politics were gifts from her father. Her mother gifted her with the pleasure of sewing, gardening and love of family. From both, she was gifted with a sense of security and faith.
With these gifts, she accomplished much, like making every house they owned a home. One that was always clean, organized, welcoming and safe. Their first and favourite, was the CPR bunkhouse in Khedive where they gave birth to their first child, Lorraine, who happened to be the first grandchild as well & a very happy time. A transfer took them to Estevan where Valerie was born and then on to Prince Albert, the birthplace of Joan and Lloyd. There, in a family picture of Lloyd’s baptism, are his three sisters standing proudly in matching coats. Those coats were made by Agnes. Remarkably having taken apart her very own coat to have enough fabric to do so.
In the mid-fifties, they returned to Weyburn to put down roots. Closer to all our extended family we celebrated holidays, birthdays, & weddings together and often with suppers, picnics, and large Sunday barbeques. With 4 children, Agnes started her nurse training graduating as an RPN. She also completed her family with the birth of Audrey.
After years of nursing, she completed university classes to become an instructor of nursing. So achieving her dream of becoming a teacher. She loved being a nurse and teacher. Her passion for her students and patients was very evident. She also dedicated a part of herself to the Psychiatric Nurses Association to improve the care and lives of those suffering from mental illness. This included commissions with the government on proposed changes to the health care system.
There were many milestones in Weyburn. The four oldest children graduated high school. Lorraine went on to graduate as an RPN with honours in geriatric care. Val and Joan were married. Agnes became a grandmother to Chad & Melissa, born only two days apart. With everyone close by, it was a joyful time.
Having managed the Coca-Cola industry in Weyburn for years, Eugene was offered a job to build a Pop Shop bottling plant in Regina. It was 1973 and Agnes gave up her work at the hospital and along with Audrey, they preceded to feather another nest. With many connections in her field, Agnes decided to set up a group home for the care and troubled youth under the Ranch Ehrio Society. Unfortunately, a diagnosis of cancer put an end to this work sooner than she wanted. She had a far greater challenge. Another transfer for Eugene took them to Edmonton. This was most untimely for Audrey in high school and Agnes not well but Agnes claimed the healthcare she received in Edmonton was far superior and saved her life. They were also supported by a caring community, It was at this point they decided if they were going to work this hard it should be for themselves. So back to the beloved prairies and closer to family.
Agnes spent the next several years as a business administrator to the three businesses, a Smoke Shop in Regina, a hotel and restaurant in Lipton and a motel in Craik. They walked into each business a disaster and left them renewed and organized. But oh boy was it ever hard work!
At the motel in Craik, they could have set up farmers markets with the bounties they harvested from their amazing gardens. Agne’s preserves of every kind were an art form. As they worked, we all pitched in to help wherever we could. With Lloyd, Audrey, and Lorraine all married now, the family continued to grow over 40 and she became a great-grandmother. As busy as she was, she delighted in gifting her handmade goods. Knitted bonnets, sweaters & booties for babies, sweaters, hats, and mittens for all. Large care packages of homemade goodies to those far away. Several handmade dolls, teddy bears, and embroidered linens, quilts, family photo books & ornaments to name a few. Never were her hands idle except to read and stay informed.
In May 1996, the family moved Agnes & Eugene into their last home, 5 minutes from Joan and Daryl in Regina. They retired, had a celebration for their 50 years thus far & were given more time to enjoy family functions and Agne’s love for reading. Agnes also took an active role in nursing again by addressing Eugene’s healthcare needs. It was with her gift of nursing care that he was able to have 10 more years with her despite serious health issues. She had the utmost respect from his doctors.
After 7 more years of living independently, Agnes had to leave that home and the life she would have chosen but what she clung to tenaciously in her closing chapters was her love for nursing, teaching, and most importantly her love of family. She set examples that most of us would be hard-pressed to follow. Such a life force is hard to reduce to even lots of words, but we are forever grateful for her life and love.
Agnes was predeceased by her loving husband of 58 years, Eugene Kerowatski; parents, Peter & Elizabeth Ortman; siblings, Theresa Carter, Adam, Bill & Joe Ortman; brother in law, Elwin Carter and sisters in law, Joyce Ortman & Francis Ortman.
Left to mourn in her passing and honour her memory are her daughter, Lorraine (Chris Hinton) Nesbeth of Prince Rupert, BC, daughter, Valerie (Gary) Wing of Weyburn, SK, daughter, Joan (Daryl) Borys of Regina, SK, son, Lloyd (Pat) Kerowatski of Weyburn, SK and daughter, Audrey (Bob) Hunt of Campbell River, BC; grandchildren, Chad (Carla), Sean (Amy), Tanya (Richard), Miranda (Zach), Melissa (Owen), Greg (Charlotte), Graham (Angeles), Tessa (Shawn), Tanner (Melissa), Danny (Victoria), Calico, Amron (Allison) & Ashton; great grandchildren, Ian, Zack (McKayla), Keely (Logan), Emma, Christopher, Colby, Geneva, Annie, Bradon (Shyla), Brooklynn (Kody), Brody (Skylar), Gabriel, Grayson, Ethan, Byrce, Barrett, Levi, Jake, Hudson, Nash & Aiden; great great grandchildren, Myah, Kezlyn, Kowen & Stetson; sister in law, Evelyn Ortman and numerous nieces, nephews, the Kerowatski family, relatives and friends.
Prayers will be said on Sunday April 21, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Vincent De Paul Roman Catholic Church, Weyburn, Saskatchewan and the Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, April 22, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. from St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church, Weyburn, Saskatchewan with Father Valentine Amobi celebrating. For those who are unable to attend in person, please log in to “Fletcher Funeral Chapel & Cremation Services” Facebook Page just prior to the start of the mass. Interment will take place at Hillcrest Cemetery, Weyburn, Saskatchewan. Please join us for lunch at McKenna Hall, following the interment.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Agnes may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church at 314 ~ 3rd Street NE, Weyburn, Saskatchewan, S4H 0W7.
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