The family of the late Grace Predy, wife of the late Peter Predy, announce her passing at the Preeceville and District Health Centre – Long Term Care, Preeceville, SK, on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at the age of 94 years.
The second oldest of four girls, Grace was born on a farm near Snowflake, MB, on August 30, 1930, to Adolph and Jenny (nee Draeger) Zilkey. When she was a young girl, the family moved to Morden, MB, where Grace spent the rest of her childhood. Although life was tough in those years, Grace had memories of a loving and happy family. She was not short of toys as her resourceful mother would cut out paper dolls from the Eaton’s catalogue for the girls to play with. Scraps of material were used to sew ragdolls and their clothes.
At an early age, Grace began to babysit for local families. In one such family, the mother, Mrs. Sprung, was a nurse. She was so kind and wonderful that Grace dreamt of being a nurse “just like her.” As a teenager, Grace waitressed in restaurants. When she was 17 years old, she travelled by train to Lake Louise, AB, where she worked as a beanery waitress at a hotel for the summer. She recalled earning $50.00/month.
She saved all her money and in 1949 she was able to pay her way through nursing school at Grace Hospital in Winnipeg, MB. Grace remembered those years as exciting and fun. She made lifelong connections with her nursing classmates. They held reunions every five years, with their 50th anniversary reunion being finally the last.
Grace graduated from nursing school in 1952. One of her classmates, Marion Johnson, enlisted her to nurse Preeceville, SK, at the “old hospital.” Grace performed general duties and later became the Operating Room nurse. She loved nursing and the camaraderie of the staff. She felt like they were family.
Grace and her young friends loved socializing, and it was at one of these socials that she met Peter Predy. They were married on June 16, 1956, at St. Andrew’s United Church in Yorkton, SK. In 1959, their first daughter, Lesley, was born followed by their son, Bruce, in 1961, and daughter, Barbara in 1962. Their daughter, Jill, was born in 1968. The child rearing years were very busy ones for Grace as she juggled nursing and parenting, but she always had time to support the kids’ various activities. Of course, summers were spent at the family cabin at Nelson Lake.
Grace was an active community member. She was a CGIT leader, sat on the Whitehawk Arts Council, and was a charter member and treasurer of the Preeceville Hospital Auxiliary. Much of her time was spent being involved with the Trinity United Church. Over the years, she taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, and joined the United Church Women's group. She even helped with the church perogy making – once!
Grace enjoyed skating, cross country skiing, golfing, playing dominoes, attending poetry club, and getting together with the ‘Birthday Girls.’ She was an avid reader and regularly swapped books with her friends.
After her retirement, in 1996, Grace spent some time babysitting her grandsons, Ryan and Robbie, and enjoyed yearly visits with her granddaughter, Alana.
Grace was predeceased by her parents, Adolph and Jenny; sisters, Frieda, Pearl, and Jean; grandson, Robbie; and her husband of 63 years, Peter. She leaves to cherish her memory, her children, Leslie (Raymond), Barbara (Bob), Jill (Rob), and Bruce; grandchildren, Ryan and Alana; and her sister, Inez; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
In Grace’s honour, a funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 8, 2025, from Trinity United Church, Preeceville, SK. Committal will follow in the Preeceville Cemetery, Preeceville, SK. Those wishing to make expressions of sympathy may make donations to the United Church Mission and Service Fund or to the Preeceville Hospital Auxiliary, as tokens of remembrance, in memory of Grace Predy. Family and friends are also invited to sign an online guestbook at www.lesonsfuneralhome.ca. Arrangements were entrusted to Leson's Funeral Home, Canora.
