Obituary of Alice Marie Kupchyk

ALICE MARIE KUPCHYK Alice Marie Kupchyk (nee Fournier), age 84 years of Regina, SK passed away on Thursday, May 29, 2014. She is now at peace after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Alice is survived by her seven children, Kathleen (David) Stuart of NC, USA, Connie Simington of Saskatoon, SK, Mickey (Sharon) Kupchyk of Regina, Theresa (Ron) Monk of Duncan, BC, Ken Kupchyk of Regina, Angela (Rob) Evans of Wilcox, SK and Christine Kupchyk of Abbotsford, BC; seventeen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Ernie Kupchyk. Alice was born in Meyronne, SK to Louis and Angeline (nee Bouvier) Fournier on October 9, 1929, and was raised on the family farm with her ten siblings, Germaine, Angeline, Louis, Denise, Helen, Gaston, Eveline, Lorraine, Gerard and Lise. She moved from the farm to Regina, and in 1951 graduated as a registered nurse at the Grey Nuns Hospital (Pasqua Hospital). Her career at the hospital began in the maternity ward. After a few years she took on the challenge of working many long shift hours in Emergency. Towards the end of her nursing career, Alice accepted the position of head nurse in the Cancer ward at the Pasqua, until her retirement. While working, she met the love of her life Ernest Kupchyk, they married and raised seven children in a home the two built with their own hands. When Alice retired after forty-two years in nursing, they moved to Surrey, BC where they enjoyed their golden years in a beautiful home. Alice spent many hours sewing blankets for the poor children in the third world. This always gave her a sense of purpose knowing that she could give some warmth and comfort to a child who had nothing. She loved to sit in her kitchen, have a pot of tea on and reminisce her years of nursing and raising her family that she was so very proud of. Alice and Ernie remained married for fifty-eight years until Ernie’s passing in 2010. At that time she returned to Regina to be placed in professional care with the onset of Alzheimer’s. Alice spent her last few years happy and felt the comfort of friends and family that visited her. Her sons Ken and Mickey sang songs with her, making her smile remembering the little things in life. A Memorial Service will be held at Speers Funeral Chapel, 2136 College Avenue, Regina on Thursday, June 5, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations, in memory of Alice, may be given to the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan Inc., 301 – 2550 - 12th Avenue, Regina SK, S4P 3X. The family of Alice wish to thank all the staff of William Albert House for their care and kindness expressed towards her. To leave an online message of condolence, please visit www.speersfuneralchapel.com “If I could give you information of my life it would be to show how a woman of very ordinary ability has been led by God in strange and unaccustomed paths to do in His service what He has done in her. And if I could tell you all, you would see how God has done all, and I nothing. I have worked hard, very hard, that is all; and I have never refused God anything.” – Florence Nightingale