Sophie Hayward

Sophie was born August 31, 1935 on the farm in Unity, SK and spent her childhood helping on the homestead with her siblings Les, Mike, Annie, Lily and Helen. She attended Queenston School, down the lane from the farmhouse and that was where she met her best friend Marie Hanson (Phillips). Marie lived half a mile away and she and Sophie would meet half way from each other’s house and hide in the field to play. They were life long friends.

Sophie was a really good ball player and her positon was catcher. As she was left handed, she had to use a right handed glove but did a great job anyway.

Music was a huge part of Sophie’s life. She was a pianist for Royal Purple for years and loved to play for her family. The accordian was her favourite instrument and she often carted it to the farm and to friend’s houses to entertain all. Sophie learned to play guitar, paino and accordian, all without taking a lesson, and if she heard a song on the radio she liked, she would teach herself to play that song.

Sophie married the love of her life, Bryon Hayward on July 3, 1956 at Unity United Church. She raised 4 children while working at painting and cleaning houses, but still had time to bake and have a hot meal on the table. She loved to garden and spent many hours working in her flower beds and then in the Fall canning, the harvest of her beautiful garden. She also loved to travel with her family, enjoying many vacations together.

Ukrainian Christmas was a big event in our house. She would spend days preparing, cleaning wheat to cook, makign several kinds of perogies, buckwheat sausage, cabbage rolls and a fish dish. Friends and family were always abundant in her house for Ukrianian Christmas, Sophie loved to feed people and you never left without a care package to take home.

She had many hobbies, including playing Bingo, listening to and playing music, crocheting doilies, quilting, and going to rummage sales to buy materials for her quilts.

Sophie suffered a stroke in April 2018, but that never slowed her down. She planted a garde that Spring and still cooked for the family. As the years went on, Sophie found it hard to get around so she used a can outside and a walker in the house.

 Sophie is remembered by her loving Husband of 67 years, Bryon; Children, Harvey, Brenda, Garry (Jennifer) and Dale; Seven Grandchildren, Devon, Melissa (Chad), Jarret (Pearl), Cody, Jessica, Dalton, and Cassidy; Great-grandchildren, Ava, Jayla and Marcail; Sister Annie Zbytovsky; And many nieces and nephews.

Sophie was predeceased by her parents, Peter and Mary Klapko, Harvey and Jess Hayward, sister Helen Sperle, brother Mike Klapko, step-mother Les, Albert, Fred.

It didn’t matter if you were a stranger, a friend, or a loved one, Mom never let you leave without a hug and a “Love you”.

Sophie Hayward passed away on February 9, 2023 in Unity, SK. A Funeral Service for Sophie will be held on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at 2:00PM at Unity United Church.

Tributes for Sophie may be made to the Unity & District Health Centre.

Cards may be directed to: Bryon Hayward: Box 333, Unity, SK S0K 4L0

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sophie Hayward, please visit our floral store.