Obituary of Nicole (Nini) Anna Sarafinchan

Nicole Anna Sarafinchan “Nini” It is with heavy hearts that the family of Nicole announces her passing at the age of 44, on February 2, 2017. Nicole was born in Lac La Biche, Alberta to Donald and Harriet Sarafinchan on January 3, 1973. Nicole attended school in LaCorey, Lac La Biche, Edson, Nojack, and graduated in 1991 from Vegreville Composite High School after settling with her family on the farm near Ranfurly. Shortly after graduation, she was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Failure and would spend the next 24 years of her life living with various medical challenges. Despite these challenges, and with an immense enthusiasm for life and living it to the fullest, she set a high precedent on how life deserved to be lived. She enjoyed baking and canning with mom, and often fondly recollected memories from her days spent in Food Prep during High School. She worked along side Mom in various capacities over the years, more notably in the kitchen at Chico’s Drive-in and the Innisfree Cafe, and as the ‘Hot Lunch Lady’ of St.Martin’s Catholic School in Vegreville, where she loyally prepared and served meals to hundreds of school aged children over the years, always encouraging good manners and politeness. Nicole had a tremendous sense of belonging to the community, in particular Ranfurly and Vegreville. She enjoyed cooking for the Ranfurly Agricultural Society during the fair, and often reminisced of times gone by in the Ranfurly Museum. Nicole lived for and through her niece and nephews, Sarah and Cameron, and Carter. She loved spending time with the kids on the weekends, in particular at venues such as the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, Fort Edmonton Park, or the lake. Nicole doted on Sarah, her only niece, always taking the time to discuss school, friends, and extracurricular activities. She enjoyed fishing with Cameron, and in particular appreciated the many fun times they had together at the lake. Nicole was Carter’s biggest hockey fan, and the arenas will be a bit quieter in her absence. Nicole cherished her niece and nephews tremendously, and her loss will leave a monumental void in their lives that will never be filled. She enjoyed spending time with her family playing cards, visiting, and touring the countryside for her usual Sunday Afternoon Drive. She was an avid outdoors person and loved flying in her dads airplane, fishing, and camping. One of her favourite springtime passions was taking the kids by quad in search of crocuses. She was always eager to drop everything to help someone in need, whether it be moving machinery, volunteering with extra curricular activities, or baking cookies for her neighbors. She loved Harvest in particular, and her meals in the field will be missed tremendously. She was our family historian, always remembering birthdays and planning special events. Nicole was a beautiful person, and she made the lives of those around her immeasurably richer. She taught us tolerance, persistence, and patience. Nicole always gave more than she took, and the lives she impacted will forever have a noticeable void. Nicole was predeceased by her Paternal Grandparents, Steve and Olga Sarafinchan; Her Maternal Grandparents Jack and Ann Kulmatycki; and her Maternal Aunt Lillian Motiuk. She leaves behind her beloved Parents, Don and Harriet Sarafinchan of Ranfurly; her sister Andrea (Ken) Breitkreuz, and their children Cameron and Sarah, also of Ranfurly; and her sister Catherine (Curtis) Legan, and their son Carter of Vegreville; along with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. We wish to thank the Doctors, Nurses, and Support Staff of St. Joseph’s, Grey Nuns, Royal Alexandra, and the University of Alberta hospitals, for the enduring compassion and kindness they administered to Nicole for 24 years of living with various medical challenges. More notably, we thank the ER staff and caregivers on unit 4G4 at the U of A where she spent her final hours in comfort. In particular, we offer great thanks to Dr. Sara Davison her nephrologist, who walked by Nicole’s side through the years, and who was with her at the bedside in her final moments. Further, we extend immense gratitude to the Dialysis staff at St. Joesph’s Hospital, where she spent more than 10,000 hours over the years receiving life-saving Dialysis. You made what could have been an uncomfortable and painful span bearable, and for that we are grateful. Thank you to the Emergency Medical Attendants Daniel, Kevin, Nathan and Brad from Vegreville Emergency Services who showed her empathy and tenderness in her moment of need. Lastly, thank you to the many acquaintances and friends who took the time to chat with her over the years, offer her a kind word, or provide her with encouragement when her burdens became too heavy to carry. Know that by gifting her even five minutes in random conversation, her spirits were lifted for the rest of the day. In respect of Nicole’s wishes, donations can be made to the following: University of Alberta Hospital Foundation - St. Joseph’s Dialysis Unit, 8440 112 street NW, Edmonton AB T6G 2B7; the Kidney Foundation of Canada at www.kidney.ca; or the charity of one’s choice. Nicole was also a staunch supporter of organ donation, and if she knew that her passing encouraged even one person to donate their organs upon death, she would be comforted. You are encouraged to visit www.cantransplant.ca for more information. A Funeral Service for Nicole will be held on Saturday, February 11, 2017 at 11 a.m. at the Ranfurly School, with Reverend Don Bodnar officiating with interment to follow in the Ranfurly Cemetery.