Barb Luchenski

Luchenski, Barbara Frances age 81 of Swift Current Saskatchewan, peacefully passed away on Thursday November 9, 2023 after a lengthy stay at Cypress House.

Barbara is survived by her loving children Lana (Chris), Wayne (Genna) and Andrea (Darren), grandchildren Allison (Colton), Emily, Rhett and Reese as well as her great granddaughter Briar. Barbara is also survived by her stepsister Pat (Peter), sister-in-law Joan and stepfamily Ione (Richard), Zelda (Rob), Nona (Bob), Jeremy, Jody, Meghan, Jade and Koby. She is predeceased by her husband Edward Luchenski, mother Helen Whittingham, father Frank Hayward, stepfather Bill Whittingham, her siblings Cal Hayward, Lois McHarg and stepbrother Barry Whittingham. She was loved by all and will be very missed by her nieces and nephews.

Born on September 20, 1942 and raised in Swift Current, Barb was the youngest of three children and, after her father’s untimely passing, eventually gained two more stepsiblings whom she adored. She spent her school years in Swift Current where she found her love of sports, reading, horses and eventually met her lifelong friends. After high school, Barb and some of her best girlfriends moved to Regina to attend nursing school at the Regina Grey Nuns Hospital. Regina is also where she met her husband Edward Luchenski whom she married in 1964. On one of their very first dates, Ed wanted to impress her and took Barb to a Saskatchewan Roughrider game where he quickly found out that she knew every player and all their statistics.

Barb and Ed made their way back to Swift Current where they started their family and raised three children. During this time, Barb worked as a nurse at the Young Medical Clinic where she became a familiar face to anyone who attended the clinic. She was well loved and known for her gentleness, and kind, compassionate care. After she left the nursing profession, she made the decision to enroll in additional education in order to work in the field of home care where she started as an Assessor and where her career as a Case Manager was sadly cut short with her diagnosis of Alzheimer’s/memory loss.

Barb’s first love was horses – from reading Black Beauty as a young girl, spending her spare time at the stables in Regina, to never missing the Kentucky Derby and riding quarter horses at the Minor ranch. Barb was an avid sports fan and with Ed’s encouragement she became a talented archer. In 1976 she qualified to compete in the Saskatchewan Summer Games as part of Team Saskatchewan. She was a huge fan of the Roughriders and had an ongoing friendly rivalry with her brother Barry and sister-in-law Joan who cheered for the Edmonton Eskimos. Barb and Ed were also big fans of the Swift Current Broncos and they held season tickets for many years. She loved being a sports mom and eventually a sports Nana to her four grandchildren. Many summer holidays and weekends were enjoyed at the family cabin in Cypress Hills however her most beloved times were the holidays, spending time with family and friends, playing cards and games and preparing amazing meals. As was her tradition, she requested and received a puzzle every year at Christmas and it’s a tradition that the family continues today.

The entire Luchenski family would like to extend our deepest gratitude to many friends and family for their support over the years, especially as Barb’s health declined. We would also like to thank the staff at Cypress House for their care. Even though her memory faded, she remained the most beautiful soul and we will always love and miss her dearly.

A celebration of her life will be held at a future date. For those wishing, donations in Barb’s memory can be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of Saskatchewan.  Arrangements entrusted to Warren's Funeral Home.  For further information please call 1-306-773-8831 or 1-800-267-6606, or visit our website at www.warrensfuneralhome.com and express your sympathy to family members on the tribute wall.

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