Pearl Cassidy passed away in the early morning hours of Sunday, April.21, 2019.

Pearl was born Paraska Zajenczkowski to parents Nicholas and Hafia (nee Chuhaniuk). The family name changed over the years to Zayachkowski, Zaichkowski and even Zack. This carried onto Paraska, changing her first name legally to Pearl on her 18th birthday. The family had a farm in the Fish Creek Area, Sec, TP42A, Rge1, W3rd. This was near the town of Wakaw, Saskatchewan. They lived on the same road as her cousins, both Chuhaniaks and Zayachkowski's. She was the 9th of 14 healthy children.

Stories of sleeping head to foot, using cats to warm their feet in the winter. A funny tale of Pearl's eyebrows getting burnt off behind the barn by two of her brothers trying to light a cigar. She was born in the middle of a bunch of boys, so a tomboy she had to be. She drove a car through the family home and her mother took the blame to protect Pearl, she often spoke of her mother Hafia's warm heart. Her father Nicholas loved to dance and was the life of the party. Her brothers played in an all family Polka band that toured Canada. They were a close family and Pearl always spoke of her family with pure love, even raising funds with her family and community so that her brother Fred could travel to New York and be the first cornea transplant recipient. Fred had been eye injured as a child by running with scissors, an image that haunted Pearl daily as she witnessed this as a small child. Pearl took the initiative to learn braille in her 20's to relay her brother Fred's letters to the family from the Blind Institute in Toronto. She lived a big chunk of her life on the same block as her brother Jim (Zack) and when he and his wife Marie moved out to Kamloops later in life, Pearl would visit on the train at least twice a year to pick cherries. She also loved her visits with her niece Debbie.

She was the last one of the 14 siblings living at the time of her death. All siblings with the exception of one, lived very long lives. Bill, John, Mary, Anne, Malonka (passed at age 12), George, Alec, Fred, Pearl, Jim, Mike, Nick, Minnie and Peter.

In 1946, Pearl married Robert (Bob) George Cassidy, and began a life where she was always cherished, wanted for nothing and pretty much called the shots with her fiery nature. Bob would always say, Pearl should of been born a redhead. She came to study with Jehovah's Witnesses before and after they wed. She was baptized after their marriage. She had many friends in the Nutana area of Saskatoon and Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. They had a son Terry Robert Cassidy in 1954. He was their only child and they loved him dearly.

In 1972 the family moved to Winnipeg for Bob's career with the CNR. In Winnipeg their son Terry also joined the CNR. Pearl made many friends in the East Kildonan and Elmwood areas. In 1976, Terry married Shirley-Anne Braschuk and made Pearl a grandmother twice in 1978 and 1982. She welcomed Christina Dawn and Tanya Lynn Cassidy with warmth and an always willing to help attitude. She had a very special relationship with her granddaughters, even having them live with her in their teens. She loved to give her granddaughters neck and foot rubs and teach them reflexology. The love of her grandchildren carried to her great-grandchildren. In 1998, 2001 and 2006 Christina had Mykaela, Brody and Evan Daniels. Pearl babysat Mykaela from 1 to 9 years old in her 80's. She was still so healthy, she would take Mykaela on bus rides to Kildonan Place and even downtown to the cafe in the Bay. Mykaela was known to attach herself to Pearl's pant leg.

Pearl survived a mastectomy at the age of 72 due to a dot of cancer on a penny sized growth. At 72, they took the better safe than sorry approach. She would live for 27.5 more years. In 2004 Pearl and her husband Bob faced their darkest hour. Their only child Terry passed away suddenly from a heart attack 3 days past his 50th birthday. They were still so strong and made it through their grief. Finding strength in their faith, friends and grandchildren.

Pearl loved Jehovah God and his son Jesus very much. She stayed faithful to the end and was still sharing her knowledge with people until the week before she died. She was adamant that she would make it into the paradise on earth she believed in so wholeheartedly, without passing first. She literally fought through a blood clot in her lung, 2 heart attacks and 11 strokes from 96 to 99.5 to make that happen. Although she lived a long full life, it saddens me that it was a medication error involving hydromorphone that ended her fight. Some may say a blessing, some may say she should have gone out on her terms, some may question if the care home employee (s) took matters into their own hands. She was aware that in 3 months her great-granddaughter Mykaela was making her a great-great grandmother to another little girl who already shows a fiery spirit in her ultrasounds. Pearl even told Mykaela it was a girl when she was first told.

Pearl Cassidy was a loving, warm, fiery, strong, compassionate and unique woman. If you were loved by her, you felt so special. I hope she knew just how loved she was. We love you Baba, XOXO.