Sonia {Biorneskaret) Onyschuk
I worked in the kitchen for only a short time in 1960 at the age of sixteen years. In 1963 I met and married Nick Onyschuk. We live in the Lac Bellevue area. We have two children - Vivian and Dwayne - and three grandchildren. When the children were eleven and thirteen, I went to work in the St.Paul Hospital. I worked for twenty seven years permanent part time. For the last three years, I work casual.
Julie (Hoard) Boyko
Worked 1969-70; 1972-73; 1974-77; 1981-1983 in dietary, nursing (RNA).
I married Gary Boyko and we moved to Bonnyville. I worked with Home Care for a few years. Then I started work at the Sears Catalogue store. I managed the store for nine of those years. Finally, my back wouldn't let me do the heavy lifting any more. Three and a half years ago, I started working at the Bonnyville Medical Clinic. It is a fast paced office and I love it. Our new computer system was a challenge but I am finally comfortable with it - I guess you can teach "old dog" new tricks!
Gary-and I have two children - Donovan and Rebecca. Donovan and his wife, Niki, bought a house a couple of years ago in Edmonton. Rebecca and her husband just bought a house in Spruce Grove. We have no grandchildren yet. Gary and I have some property in Lindbergh and would like to retire there in the next four
or five years.
Marion (Gusnowski) Juba
Worked at the hospital from 1943 to 1947 as a ward aide.I am the oldest of six children born to Paul and Helen Gusnowski. Attended school at King George. Went to work at the age of seventeen at the Elk Point Hospital. These were wonderful years, lots of fun. Met Paul Juba during that period - he happened to be a patient. About two years later we married, had two children - Sharon and Blaine who we lost at an early age of 49 years due to cancer which is still hurting. Spent 43 years in St.Paul during which time I worked at St. Therese Hospital for twenty two years from 1962 to 1984. Widowed in 2005, moved back to my hometown, Elk Point, and now I reside in Fort George Manor and enjoying it day by day.
Gunhild K.. (Bioneskaret) Nelson
I worked in the Elk Point Hospiml in 1951-52 in the laundry. I did the washing and Annest Jendruck did the ironing of the nurses' uniforms and dresses for the girls in the kitchen, Cotton dresses were fine but the taffeta dresses were very bard to do and it took too long to iron them. I married Edwin Nelson in 1949. We have three children - Sheila, Vicki, and Arne, seven grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren.
Barry Keck
I worked at the Elk Point Municipal Hospital from about 1954 to 1966.Then moved to Edmonton, worked as Stationary Engineer at Esso Refinery, retired in 1990.
We purchased our home in 1967. Raised two children - Dianne born in Elk Point in 1962. James born in Edmonton in 1970. Both married. James lives in Edmonton. Dianne lives in Toronto. We celebrated fifty years of marriage in 2006. Since I have retired, we have travelled to many interesting places. We both enjoy reasonably good health and keep very active.
Anne (Shymkiw) Gulayec
I started working in the Elk Point Hospital in1942, first in the laundry and serving trays and then as a ward aide which I really enjoyed until 1945. In August 1945 got married to Tedrick Gulayec. We celebrated our 60th anniversary. I thank the Lord that I am still here at 83 to enjoy all these great events. :
Elsie {Zapesocki) Bozak
I worked at the Elk Point Hospital in the summer of 1965 in housekeeping with Lil Buksa as my boss. Returned in the summer of 1966 and stayed until December. Then moved to Edmonton and took Nursing Aide training- graduated in December 1967. Married Sam Bozak on August 2, 1969 and lived
in Edmonton and worked at the Royal Alec. Moved to a farm north of Edmonton in 1973 where we still live. Have three daughters - all married.
Verla (Sweet) Kiehlbauch
Worked in the kitchen in the early sixties.
Terry Clark
Elk Point was the first hospital in which I worked in Canada. I wanted to know the Canadian character so deliberately chose a small community thinking that I would get to the heart of the matter and I sure did. I well remember a smart young female officer at the Canadian High Commission in London who was dealing with my documents looking at me and saying "you want to go to Alberta in January? Have yon any idea what Alberta is like in Winter? The snow can be higher than the houses and small towns can be snowed in for days at a time - I grew up there." When I arrived in Edmonton in the midst of a three week spell of 60 below weather with lots of snow, the Edmonton Journal was happily handing out certificates to all who bad lived through it! I have not forgotten that or the equally warm welcome when I arrived at the Elk Point Hospital That and other fond memories including some astonishing Bonspiels will live with me forever.
My best wishes to you and all who are attending the reunion.
Elizabeth (Warawa) Markowski
Worked as a Ward Aide in 1957.
Mary (Cunningham) Garnett Bennett
Worked in acute, peds, ER from 1981 to present.
I graduated from the Montreal General Hospital School of Nursing in September 1965. From there I went to work in Kelowna BC and then Licno Gate Hospital in North Vancouver. I then returned to Montreal and met and married my husband, Len, and we went to South Africa for seven years. Upon returning to Canada, we came out West. When I joined the staff of Elk Point Hospital, I was new to the world of rural nursing, being a "jack of all trades" so to speak and had lots to learn. I learned invaluable lessons from the NA's employed at that time from their vast experience and knowledge gained over the years. I am still working full time and will continue to do so as long as I can.
Jean (Sass) Ference
I started work in the fall of 1954 to 1955 in the diet kitchen. My job was washing baby bottles, delivering food trays, filling pitchers of fresh water for the patients,
cleaning staff bathrooms and, sometimes, working in the kitchen. Got tired of washing baby bottles so I got married in the fall of 1956 and ended up washing my
own baby bottles.
Elizabeth (Soldan) Didow
Worked all departments o fEPMH as an RN from 1981 to 1994.
Patricia Kalynchuk
As I recall our Matrons nick name was ''busy'' Petroski. We had another Matron who's name was Miss Malcolm. I enjoyed working with three other head nurses. I especially remember Kay, who was very nice to work with. We were all kept pretty busy with everyone doing their fair share of work. We all worked shift work and our different duties. Dr. Miller had been in Elk Point for quite some time. There was also Dr. Wegerinck who had been there.
In 1948 I met Peter Kalynchuk and dated him for two years. We were married in 1950, and we led a good life together. We moved to Edmonton where I worked at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in the operating room for quire some time. In 1956, I gave birth to our son Elwin Wayne. I then went to work at Canadian Cellanese plant where I worked for thirty-six years. I retired in 1979. Pete passed away in January of 1994, after suffering with heart problems for a few years.
It was then that I started to run my home for disability patients, which I still do to this day. It keeps me busy with always something to do.
THE BIOGRAPHY ·OF SANDRA OESTER
After working in Elk Point from 1978-1995 I moved to Edmonton. Knowing that there was a shortage in nursing positions, I carried on selling Weekender Ladies Wear, now full time. As the nursing situation opened up, I started working at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Centre full time in March of 1999. In May of 2005, I took on a new career opportunity, working in the private sector as-a caregiver for an elderly couple in Edmonton. In October of 2005, I accompanied them to live in their home in Palm Springs California, for the winter. This was a great experience and quite the adventure. In the spring of 2006 I returned to Edmonton and started working back at the Glenrose. Over the years I have been able to take a couple of trips each year to go and visit my daughter and grandchildren in Quebec. Life is good.
