Obituary of Barbara Anne Mary Dedi

Please click on this link to view the livestream of the service

Barbara Dedi, late of Regina, SK, passed away peacefully, after a lengthy battle with cancer,  on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at the age of 69 years. Predeceased by her parents Mary “Mae” and William Dedi, Barbara is survived by her husband Brian Howey; daughter Jestina Beskowiney, her partner Lancelot Glen and their son Luka; daughter Stephanie and husband Dan Dreger and their daughter Eastyn; and son Stephan “Pancho” Beskowiney and his partner Sarah Stewart; her sister Jeanette and her husband Brian Miller; as well as step-daughters Michelle (Dylan)Thiessen and their children Rowan, Asher and Vada and Roberta “Bobbi” Howey and her sons Cache, Karsen, and Axel; as well as many other cousins, nephews, and friends.

Barb was born to Mae and Bill Dedi on August 24, 1953, in Regina. After graduating from SIAST, she spent 30 years in psychiatric nursing where she worked in several fields and several communities across the province.

Barb and her late ex-husband Peter Beskowiney married in 1977 and moved to Swift Current, SK where they raised their three children Jestina, Stephanie and Pancho before moving back to Regina in 1994. She later married her partner, Brian Howey in 2008. Barb loved spending her time with her family at the ball diamond, cooking and baking for Sunday suppers, and traveling with her Auntie Isabelle, her sister Jeannette and brother-in-law Brian and close friends Mervin and Sandra Melnychenko. Together they all spent many years cruising and traveling around the Caribbean, Central America and Europe. She loved to experience the sights, delights and souvenirs of markets wherever and whenever she could. Another favorite of Barb’s was the annual week spent in Craven at Country Thunder/Big Valley Jamboree. Setting up their themed decorations to make their site the most recognizable at the festival was always a point of pride for the Purple Lady. The most important thing in Barb’s family life were her grandchildren. They were the light of her life. She found her true calling when she became a Baba.

Barb  was a long standing advocate for human rights, multiculturalism, worker's rights, unions and many other community organizations and issues. She loved to celebrate her own Ukrainian culture and the culture of others. This was largely shown through her Ukrainian Christmas celebrations, commitment to the Regina Multicultural Council, Mosaic, and Spring Free From Racism’s Family Day. Barb’s life was largely dedicated to social and political activism, multicultural and equity groups. She constantly sought to advocate for those who needed a voice and to bring people together through celebrations of diversity and multiculturalism.

The Funeral Service will take place at St. Basil’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, 1747 Toronto St, Regina, SK on Friday, January 13, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. Interment will take place for family at the Geneva Cemetery in Palmer, SK at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to The Hospitals of Regina Foundation - Palliative Care Unit, 1874 Scarth St, Regina, SK S4P 4B3 or to the Spring Free From Racism Family Day Committee – (306) 551 4908.

To view the livestream of the service, please click on the link found at the top of this obituary page.