Pearl Mary (Misfeldt) Puritch

In Loving Memory of

Pearl Mary Puritch

1914 - 2013

With heavy hearts we sadly announce the gentle end of our beloved mother, grandmother and great- grandmother, Pearl Mary Puritch (nee Misfeldt), widow of John Fred Puritch, on Friday, November 29, 2013 just three weeks shy of her 99thbirthday or in other words, just three weeks shy of the beginning of her 100th year of life. 

She survived the wars of the world and lived through the Great Depression due to the fact that she was as determined as a mule, healthy as a horse, knew how to work hard plus her positive attitude motivated her to love life and her family.  And now we have a “Mom Angel” to watch over us.

It was Tuesday, December 22, 1914 when Pearl Mary was born to Martin and Elizabeth Misfeldt (nee Mattson) on a homestead in the Dahlton, Saskatchewan district.  Pearl’s parents were married in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1902 and immigrated to Canada in 1908.  Their three oldest children, Doris, Mildred and (Douglas who died in infancy) were born in the USA.  Pearl and the two youngest sons, Harry and Fred were born on the homestead in Saskatchewan. By the time Pearl started school her parents were in the road construction business so she attended several different schools.  They spent several summers living in tents.  Her high school education took place in Chilliwack, British Columbia and she graduated grade thirteen at age of sixteen in 1931. 

It was in 1920 that Pearl and her family moved to Pleasantdale, Saskatchewan.  It was during this time that she saw a telephone line for the first time and could not figure out how you could hear voices through those wires.  When she was eight years old she saw a manufactured doll for the first time and was frightened by it; as the only doll she ever had was a rag doll made by her mother.

Even as a young girl, Pearl was always aware of current events.  In 1926, when she was eleven, she and her girlfriend would go to the train station every day after school.  The reason for this was that she had heard on the radio that the Prince of Wales had bought a ranch in Highriver, Alberta.   She reasoned that he would go by train and therefore he would have to go through her little town in Saskatchewan because that’s where the train track was located.  Pearl had a special place in her heart for the Monarchy and she could tell you all about them from the time when she was a youngster to present day.

The Great Depression of the thirties made it very difficult to find any work.  So after graduating high school Pearl picked berries and hops to make enough money for a railway ticket back to Saskatchewan where she found work on a farm for $5 a month.  In the mid 1930's Pearl went to the United States to keep house for her uncle and his family.  On her way back to Canada she stayed in Winnipeg, Manitoba where she was a domestic for three music teachers.  From Winnipeg Pearl went to Flin Flon, Manitoba where she and her widowed mother ran a boarding house for eight years.  In Flin Flon, Pearl was baptized into the Lutheran faith in 1941.  Pearl then moved to Kamsack, Saskatchewan and worked in a restaurant.  Here is where she met her husband, John.  They were married in Naicam, Saskatchewan in September 1951.  Pearl wore the necklace her father had given her mother on their wedding day in 1902.  In 1955 they moved to Kitimat, British Columbia where John was employed as a mechanic.  They remained there for three years and then moved to Roblin, Manitoba to raise their family of three children.  Having lived through the Great Depression, Pearl was able to miraculously make hearty meals with very little.  Nothing was ever wasted.  She was quite gifted at creating and cooking wonderful meals and baking delicious desserts.

Pearl believed in volunteering as did her parents.  Therefore she was always actively involved in the communities where she lived.  Just to name a few; Pearl, as a young woman in Flin Flon, was a member of the council for the First United Lutheran Church and a member of the Ladies Aid. The mayor of Roblin appointed Pearl to the hospital board and she never missed a meeting for the eleven years that she was a board member.  She was the vice-president of the Roblin Ladies Conservative Party Club and secretary for the St. Matthew's Lutheran Ladies Aid for a number of years.

Both Pearl and her husband, John, took great pride in their children and their accomplishments.  However their buttons just popped off their chests when their grandchildren came into their lives.  Pearl proudly saw their grandchildren become successful in their chosen life paths.  And to have great grandsons - that was a bonus.

In 2004, when Pearl was ninety years young, Professor Greenhill of the University of Winnipeg came to Roblin to record an interview with her.  Professor Greenhill was doing research on history of traditions in communities and her main interest was in shivarees of which Pearl had participated in several times.  This event usually occurred when a group of friends would surprise a newlywed couple in their home after their lights went out.  Pearl’s memories of shivarees were a lot fun during those dirty thirty years.

Pearl’s memory was outstanding as she could recall dates, events, names and details not only of her own extended family but also her husband's large family as well as historical Canadian events.  As all her siblings predeceased Pearl, she became the matriarch of the Martin Misfeldt family.  She was much admired by her cousins, nieces and nephews for her ability to recall events, names and dates of their family’s history.

Glaucoma took most of Pearl’s sight so her love of reading came to an end.  In 1993 Pearl had two accidents in which she broke both shoulders and a leg and endured long hospital stays.  While she was in the hospital, her husband passed away.  Despite her disabilities she continued to live in her own home until she was age ninety-six then moved to her new apartment in the Crocus Court Personal Care Home.

As a tribute to Pearl, her daughters, daughter-in-law and granddaughters wore pearls in her honor.

To cherish her memory, Pearl leaves her two daughters and one son and their spouses: Linda and Dave Fish of Lockport, MB; Valerie and Eric Olson of Bield, MB; Glen and Carol Puritch of Roblin, MB; one grandson: Sheldon Olson of Brandon, MB; five granddaughters: Melynda Olson-Beres (Jason Beres) of Saskatoon, SK; Lindsay Fish-Marsh (Jason Marsh) of Birds Hill, MB; Darci Fish of Winnipeg, MB; Tara Kinchen (nee Pshebnicki) (Bill Kinchen) of Winnipeg, MB; Carleigh Pshebnicki (Marc Cochlin) of Edmonton, AB; three great grandsons: Corey Marsh, Ryan Marsh, Corbin Kinchen; sisters-in-law: Betty Puritch, Bella Pronyk, Sophie Sauchuk, Elsie Puritch; brother-in-law, Paul Reed; cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces/nephews and great-great nieces/nephews.

To pay their respects, family and friends gathered on Tuesday evening, December 3, 2013, 7:00 PM, at the Chapel of Nairn-Chyz Funeral Home in Roblin.

Pearl’s Funeral Service was held on Wednesday, December 4, 2013 at 2:00 PM from St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Roblin,  with Pastor Barry Wood officiating. The organist, Mrs. Debbie Funk, led the congregation in singing the hymns “Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me”, “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” and “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”. The soloist, Mr. Ed Doering, sang the hymn, “Silent Night”. Casket Bearers were Melvin Puritch, Ken Proskie, Jim Proskie, Craig Nykyforak, Glen Boychuk and Tom Paczkoski.

Following the Interment Service at the Roblin District Cemetery, a reception was held at the Roblin 50 & Over Drop-In Center and catered by St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church Ladies Aid.

A Mother

holds her

children's hands

for a while . . .

and

their hearts

forever.

NAIRN-CHYZ FUNERAL HOME

Entrusted with Arrangements

Roblin’s Only Locally Owned

and Family Operated Funeral Home

(204) 937-2111