Annie Elizabeth (Mitru) Lazar

Annie “Anne" (Mitru) Lazar, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 30, 2020 at the Galloway Health Centre LTC, at the age of 92.

Annie was born March 15, 1928 at the family homestead near Lestock, Saskatchewan, to parents George and Ida Mitru. She was the youngest of three, having two older brothers Steve and Joe. Anne was the only one in her family born in Canada after the rest of the family immigrated from Hungary.

While growing up Anne enjoyed playing baseball. This love of ball continued into her later life where she was a devoted Blue Jays fan and watched every game she could on the television.

In November of 1947 Anne married Joe Lazar and together they farmed and raised their son and daughter north of Lestock. Together they farmed grain and then added hogs when grain took a downturn in the late 1960s. Anne took great pride in her house and yard that was perfectly kept including many flowers and plants. Her pride in her garden continued even when living on her own in Alameda, using pots and buckets on her back step.

Joe and Anne enjoyed spending time outdoors, including fishing and camping with family and friends throughout many provinces. They also enjoyed travelling; flying, cruising and taking bus trips to visit numerous places including many US states, the Florida keys, Alaska, and the Bahamas.

Joe and Anne also spent their time going to dances, entertaining friends, bowling and curling. Anne also enjoyed watching curling and rarely missed a televised game, even in her last years. Family and friends were always welcome and many games of cards were played. Along with cards, Anne also liked to visit the casino and play the machines. She would take bus tours to different casinos with family and friends. Even in the later years, a trip to the Bear Claw with her friends or grandchildren made her quite happy.

Anne was skilled in the kitchen, which her grandchildren (and any visitor) enjoyed immensely. The best would be a fresh batch of homemade buns or bread with homemade strawberry jam. She took pride in knowing the favourite baked goods of her grandchildren and would ensure that those were available whenever they visited. Anyone who stopped by would be sure to get coffee and a homebaked treat along with a friendly visit. Others of Anne’s cooking specialties were creamed chicken, perogies and cabbage rolls. Even before her grandchildren were adults she ensured she taught them the right way to pinch perogies and roll cabbage rolls.

After retiring from farming, Anne and Joe moved into Lestock. They continued to travel and spend time with friends and family. Joe passed away in 1997. In 2000, Anne moved to Alameda to be closer to her daughter and family. While in Alameda Anne made many new friends. She loved to visit, have coffee and play cards. She helped out and spent time with her family, especially loving the time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In 2010 Anne took a fall which forced her to move to the care home in Carnduff and then eventually Oxbow. She continued to keep her spunk and good attitude. We were blessed with her for another 10 more (bonus) years. Anne will be greatly missed by her family.

Anne was predeceased by her husband, Joe (1997); parents, George and Ida; son Wayne Lazar and his wife Lorrie; daughter, Jo-Anne Buchanan; brothers, Steve Mitru and Joe Mitru, as well as numerous brothers- and sisters-in-law.

She will be lovingly remembered by her grandchildren Tara (Terry) Brock, Lee Buchanan, Tancy (Philip) Whitehouse, Chelsey Lazar and Kasey (Nart Kasa) Lazar; great-grandchildren Braden, Bailey, Kaiya, Jacob, Owen, Carter, Jaxon, and Amaiya; son-in-law Murray Buchanan, sister-in-law Evelyn Mitru, brother-in-law Richard Lazar, and many nieces and nephews.

No formal service will be held. Private interment will take place at a later date.

If friends so desire, donations in memory of Anne can be directed to the Galloway Health Centre Handivan by sending to Galloway Health Centre, c/o Hospital Auxilary P.O. Box 268, Oxbow, SK, S0C 2B0 with Memo: Handivan.

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