Obituary of Cecilia Mary Friske

Cecilia (Granny) was born on November 14, 1925 to Firmin and Vera Baskey in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and was the only daughter of four children.
Granny had the misfortune of losing her hearing at age 2, but it did not deter her from attending Connell Creek School to begin her education. She was taught by her teachers to read lips and this became her way of communication throughout her life.
She left her schooling at age 15 when she was needed on the family farm to help her dad pack shingles for the next five years. During the spring – fall seasons in 1943-45, she also worked for Art Morin doing housekeeping and gardening. Once the farm was sold, her family rented land and started a dairy farm where her and her brother Raymond delivered milk and cream until 1947.
On November 5, 1949, she married Norman Friske and they resided on their farm for the next 51 years. Granny helped Norman with the chores, delivered eggs from her chickens, tended to her large garden, and did so much more on the farm over the years. Together they went on fishing trips, did some travelling and enjoyed many nights playing cards with friends and family until Norman’s passing in 2001.
Granny remained on the farm until 2006 keeping up with the yard work and gardening in the summer months and curling and billeting for the Tri-Town Thunder during the long winter months. She then moved into town and resided at the Pioneer Crescent where she enjoyed her much smaller garden and visiting with her neighbors. She lived on her own until 2013 when she then moved to Tisdale to live with her daughter, Darlene, when her health started to concern the family.
In 2014, she moved back to Arborfield and lived with her granddaughter Stacy, and very much enjoyed being back “home”. Granny loved her friends and family with everything she had and was “Granny” to so many people she met that never forgot her. In January, 2015, when being alone during the day became more of an issue, Granny moved into New Market Place in Tisdale and instantly became a hit with the staff. She helped the nurses in the kitchen doing dishes, folding silverware into the napkins and even helped keep an eye on some of the residents needing extra help.
Cecilia was an active member of the Royal Purple in Arborfield, a member of the senior curling club and also enjoyed the senior exercise program She attended many community events and was always keen on heading over to the Sunset Lodge to play games and visit with the other seniors in town. Her flapper pie became famous in these parts and never lasted long in anyone’s house and was usually the first to go at potlucks and bake sales.
Cecilia is predeceased by her parents, Firmin and Vera, her husband Norman Friske, her brother Francis Baskey, her son Tony Friske and her grandson Stanley Friske.
Left to cherish Granny’s memory are her daughters, Val Trombley of Castlegar, BC; Darlene (Roger Heinrichs) Soucy of Nipawin, SK; Sons Wayne (Venda) Friske of Arborfield, SK and Dan (Kelly McLean) of Arborfield, Sk; grandchildren, Chad (Trisha) Trombley of Carrot River, Sk, Stacy Trombley of Regina, Sk, Leanne Schroepfer of Regina, Sk, Lynn (Wayne Southwell) of Arborfield, Sk, Tom (Eileen) Friske of Arborfield, Sk, Brian (Miranda) Friske of Arborfield, Sk., and Garnett Friske of Arborfield, Sk. Cecilia is also survived by her brothers Raymond and Paul Baskey and many nieces, nephews and ten great grandchildren.