Lena (Kushner) Yaroshko

Lena was born on August 12, 1932 and grew up on a farm in the Monarch school district. When she began school, she didn’t speak any English, but working along with her brother Nick, and thanks to an understanding teacher, by the next year they were able to complete grades one and two. She went on to complete grade eight at Monarch school, boarded in Biggar for grade nine, and the following year she took a short sewing course. In 1948 she went to work at Lehrers Department store in Saskatoon during the week. She married Peter Yaroshko on November 9, 1952 and they farmed in the Gagenville district. Their daughter Sharron was born December 22, 1953. Lena was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses August 29, 1959. In 1959 they moved to a farm closer to Biggar before Sharon started school and to be closer to their place of worship. Their son Mark was born March 29, 1963. In December of 1973 Peter and Lena started taking hot winter vacations and never looked back. Every year they traveled together and then after Pete’s death Lena continued the tradition, traveling with her son Mark and his family as well as different friends over the years. She visited Hawaii, Fiji, Jamaica, Australia, Cuba, New Zealand, Hong Kong, China, Philippines, Austria, and Switzerland. Some places were one-time trips, for events like international conventions and Bethel tours; but Hawaii was a family favourite that became a repeat year after year. For many years Pete and Lena spent their summers helping construct Kingdom Halls in Alberta and Saskatchewan; Lena greatly enjoyed this as it combined her love of her faith, cooking, and socializing. They excitedly welcomed the birth of their granddaughter Melissa on September 16, 1990. Over the years Lena greatly enjoyed her many hobbies: various flower gardens around the farm, a massive vegetable garden, raising ducks, chickens, and geese, making quilts for family and friends, canning, baking bread, knitting dishcloths to give to everyone, and sharing her faith with others. Lena loved to entertain, never turning down an opportunity to have someone over for a meal or opening her garage for a yard party. Of course, she would not let you go until you signed her guest book. She loved having a dog, many named “Daisy” and always had a yard full of cats to follow her around. Her husband Peter died April 26, 2000. Beginning the winter of 2023 Lena moved into long term care in Biggar. She died on April 7, 2026 at the age of 93.

She was predeceased by her parents Pete & Dora Kushner, husband Peter Yaroshko, brother Nick Kushner, daughter Sharron Yaroshko, niece Laura Livingston, and in-laws Wasyl & Lena Yaroshko, Joe Cush, George Yaroshko, John & Dianne Yaroshko, Robert Farenick, and Mary & Mike Evdokimenko.

Lena is survived by her son Mark and his wife Connie Yaroshko, Granddaughter Melissa and her husband Niall Donald, Son-in-law Ron Kozakavich, Sisters Alice Cush and Ruby Farenick, Brother Victor and his wife Pat Kushner, Sisters-in-law Kate Yaroshko and Florence Kushner, and nieces and nephews.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Lena (Kushner) Yaroshko, please visit our floral store.