Vegreville News Advertiser - April 28, 2021

Well travelled Life of new Centenarian Nellie Wasyleski

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Rosanne Fortier - News Correspondent

Nellie Wasyleski was born on March 26, 1921 on the family farm, about 15 km northwest of Vegreville, north of Royal Park. Her parents were Olena (Helen) and Metro Wynnychuk. Nellie grew up on the farm, and has always lived in the Vegreville area. Nellie had four brothers (Alec, Mike, Edward and Walter. Alec and Mike died in infancy) and four sisters (Lena, Mary, Ann and Elsie).

“I had a very good childhood, although my father passed away in 1923, when I was just two-years-old. My mother, Olena, was left with a large farm to operate and four young daughters between the ages of 13 and 2. My mother remarried around 1927, and we remained on the family farm.

“One of my earliest childhood memories is riding in my mother’s Model T Ford. My mother was one of the first people in the vicinity to own and drive a car – very remarkable for a woman in that era!

Nellie Wasyleski who turned 100 on March 26, 2021.

(Joan Mettauer/Submitted Photo)

Another of my most vivid childhood memories is from approximately 1926, when my mother took me to a Chautauqua in Vegreville. I clearly remember the big tent, ferris wheel, and merry-go-round set up in a big empty field, I think it was where the Homestead Seniors’ Lodge is now situated. It was there I saw an elephant for the first time, and I was fascinated by the huge creature.

Around the same year, I had my first ride in an airplane. One of my uncles had a small, open cockpit plane that he used to haul fish from northern Alberta. He landed in the field at their farm one day and offered to take the girls up for a ride. I was the only one brave enough to take him up on the offer. A few years later, my uncle disappeared while on a fish run up north. The site of his crash was discovered many years later.”

Nellie Wasyleski in her younger days.

(Joan Mettauer/Submitted Photo)

I have been very dedicated to the community, and for many decades, I was an active member of the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church and Ladies League, of which I was Treasurer for three years. I also enjoyed doing Pastoral Care at St. Joseph’s Hospital, which I did into my 80’s. In my lifetime, I traveled to other provinces in Canada and many other countries. I credit the fact that I lived to 100 because I attended church regularly, and I have a strong belief in God, the Holy Spirit, and my Guardian Angel which has helped me live a long life. I also prefer good home cooking to fast food, avoided eating a lot of sweets and sugar, did not smoke or drink alcohol often, and stayed active as long as I could. I learned to swim at age 65!

Read the full story in the April 28, 2021 edition of the News Advertiser - now online!