Donna Marie Petracek

Donna was born in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan to Margaret & Stanley Petracek, the second child of 5 siblings David, Jim, Mark, Ralph & Laura.  After her schooling in Churchbridge, she graduated as a Registered Nurse from Kelsey Institute of Applied Arts & Sciences in Saskatoon.  Her 40 year nursing career was spent in ICU at Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon and as a Manager of Home Care in Prince Albert.

She played by the rules. Every task she did whether it was at work as a registered nurse, in the kitchen, or the garden, she did with gusto, laughter and confidence.  It was done right the first time.  In a true testament to the women in our family, she got stuff done! There is a term called ‘Meraki’.  It means to do something with soul, creativity, or love; to put something of yourself into whatever you do. It’s safe to say that Donna’s Meraki skills were fine tuned. She would be proud to be deemed a Meraki Master; as everything she did had a bit of her soulfulness.

Every spring since childhood Donna would look to the field for new baby calves with their mommas. She had a love of sewing & crafts and she was a dedicated 4H participant entering the 4H sewing program each season.  Sewing was her meditation after a long 12 hour day working in ICU. She would sit down at her sewing machine and create. It was her way of recharging her spirit after a tough day at work.

The kitchen was also a place of creativity & passion for Donna.  She loved a good recipe & her cook book collection is absolutely amazing!  We shared much laughter in the kitchen while making some kind of culinary chaos together. Yet she always kept us on track & followed the recipe.  She was always prepared to cook enough for an army, the menu was planned and she had it all organized.

Her love of flowers were something to behold on the wrap around deck of the country home she built.  She always said if she hadn’t gone into nursing she would have been an interior designer but going to school in Calgary in the 1970’s was out of reach for her.  So instead she built her own home on an acreage and when she moved to Esterhazy, in true Donna fashion, began to go full force in renovating her new home.

Her fire and determination kept us all in line, as the older sister she was the maternal light guiding the ship. She was gentle, inclusive, kind, supportive and had a mischievous sparkle to her eye. Those that sat at her table, walked with her, worked with her and talked with her knew just how loved and cherished they were.  

A recent question Donna was asking herself:  What is my purpose in life?  As life sent lessons and bumpy roads; she rose to each moment with grace & determination.  In challenging times she was the one who always had your back and all the bases covered. Donna devoted her love to her family; her strength and resilience was inspirational.  She paved the path to give the rest of us courage to be brave & bold. As someone who was blessed with her love, it was clear that her purpose was to help heal the world.  She showed that healing with every interaction and loving connection. 

Longevity is something that we have always thought would come for each of us in our family as Donna’s parents, Margaret & Stan both lived such long lives. It was a huge shock to us to lose Donna so quickly and so early in life. Perhaps in another life we will be granted more years.  Donna lived her life with grounded strength.  With these words we want to share our profound love and know that this is not goodbye.  We will continue to feel her love & spirit in the world around us.

And Lana wrote:  Dear Auntie Donna, on the day you found your wings as our guardian angel, we felt your protective warmth as a thick blanket of fog nestled on the rolling hills of Ceres and your strength shone upon us with that beautiful Australian sunshine.  We felt your love grounding to earth as we witnessed your grace on the wings of a Hawaiian Albatross gliding through the trees.  We felt your assured peaceful calmness as the morning mist rose off Victoria harbour and we were reminded of your soulful presence in the vast Prairie skies.  May your heart forever carry on in each of us as we continue to love and cherish all that made our Donna.