WILDRED (WILLA) SARAH CHERNASKI

It is with great sorrow that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved aunt, Willa Sarah Chernaski (nee Becker), on Friday, May 9, 2014 in Fort Frances, Ont.
Willa was born Oct. 10, 1934 to the late Hosea and Lillian (Carter) Becker in Fort Frances.
Raised in McIrvine, Ont., she attended McIrvine School as well as Fort Frances High School.
After graduation, she worked for a short time in the telegraph office and then for the Town of Fort Frances in the telephone office. Later, Willa became an employee of Bell Canada and worked many years as an operator until the office was closed in July, 1979.
She married the love of her life, Breck Chernaski, on July 21, 1972. Willa always said Breck was an excellent cook—she especially loved his homemade cabbage rolls and gourmet perogies.
They spent many happy years together until his passing in 2000.
Willa was a lifelong animal lover. She always was putting seed out for the birds and feeding the squirrels that lived nearby, though there always was a special place in her heart reserved only for her cats.
She was a lovely piano player, and boy did she love to shop! She could be seen out and about in the stores of Fort Frances with her mother and sister, and later with her nieces in tow.
Hours could be spent in Safeway, Walmart, or Canadian Tire, and stopping for lunch or coffee somewhere along the way always was something she looked forward to.
She was a beautiful writer—her penmanship was remarkable, and she always put much thought into messages she would write in cards and in letters she wrote to friends and family.
She was a lover of wine, of flowers, and of all things beautiful.
Left to mourn are her beloved nephews, Shawn (Evlyn), Mark, Forrest, and Todd (Judy) Hayes, and Leigh (Laurie), Kevin, and Cameron (Terri) Becker; nieces, Sharolyn Hayes and Clarinda Ruiz; and sister-in-law, Carol Becker.
She also is survived by her great-nieces and nephews, Tanya (Kelly) Cunningham, Chad (Celine), Kristen (Cory), Brittany (Chris), Cale, and Connor Hayes, and Kyle and Danielle Becker; and great-great-nieces and nephews, Daniel, Rachel, Hannah, and Andrew Cunningham, Chloe and Caden Hayes, and Deegan Van Alstyne.
Also surviving are her cousins, Virginia Cousineau, and Kerry (Barb) and Orlow (Hanfen) Flinders; as well as many special friends.
Willa was predeceased by her parents, Hosea and Lillian (Carter) Becker; adored husband, Breck Chernaski; stepdaughter, Patti-Sue Chernaski; sister and best friend, Dorothy Hayes; brother, Glen Becker; brother-in-law, Allan Hayes; and nephew, Mark Becker.
She was a quiet, very generous woman with a keen sense of humour that always made us laugh. She will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered.
A memorial service will be held Friday, May 23, 2014 at 2 p.m. at the Evangelical Fellowship Church in Fort Frances, with Pastor Jeff Plett officiating.
The honourary pallbearers will be Shawn, Todd, Chad, Cale, and Connor Hayes, Kelly Cunningham, Leigh Becker, Chris Strachan, and Irene Wilson.
If desired, in memoriam donations may be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association at University Drive, Toronto, Ont., M5G 2R5 or the charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be offered at www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com