Nina Smith October 1, 1924 December 6, 2010 Nina passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her family after a brief illness. She is predeceased by her husband, Jack (2002); and infant son, Allan (1957); as well as her parents, Ivan and Oksenia Muzichuk; birth mother, Sophia; and her siblings, Varka, Malashka, Nadia, John, Dennis, Pete, Fred, Harry and Valentina. She is survived by her daughters, Kathy (Duane) Siemens and Joan (Ed) Beisel; her grandchildren, Jamie and Jackie Siemens, Megan and Andy Beisel; sister-in-law Nadia; and numerous nieces and nephews in Canada and Ukraine. Nina was born in Selets, Ukraine in 1924, the youngest child in a family of 10. In 1929, she crossed the Atlantic on the SS Luthiania with her parents and 4 brothers to arrive at Pier 21 in Halifax. Arriving in Punnichy by train, Nina's family bought a farm and started their new lives. Nina went to school at Perryville, where she learned to speak English and developed a life-long love of learning. She was very musical and loved to sing and play her guitar. Nina went to Normal School in Moose Jaw and got her teaching certificate. Over the next 46 years, she taught at rural one-room schools at Powermine (Shaunavon), Edgebrook (Punnichy), Hagen (Outram), and Kutawa (Punnichy), as well as the towns of Chaplin and Punnichy. The achievements of her kids always excited her! During her posting near Shaunavon, she met the love of her life, Jack Smith. They married in 1947, moved to Punnichy and had three children: Kathy, Allan and Joan. Nina loved to garden and was an active partner with the farm work, while continuing to teach. In 1962, she volunteered to help with the Punnichy Brownie group and a new lifepath was initiated. In her 40+ years of active service with the Girl Guides of Canada, Nina volunteered countless hours leading the youth of Saskatchewan in song and camping expertise. She visited all the Guide Houses in the world and counted every Girl Guide that she met as a friend. Nina's love of travel took her to 29 countries and back to Ukraine twice to visit family. After moving with Jack to Saskatoon in 1993, Nina joined numerous choral groups and expanded her list of friends once again. Orpheus 60, Dibrova Ukrainian Folk Ensemble, Western Development Museum Boomtown Singers, St. Mark's Choir, Trefoil Guild, Superannuated Teachers' Choir, Songsters, Outcasts all groups benefited from Nina's strong soprano voice and avid participation. In the past few years, she took great joy in performing for the residents of Keedwell Assisted Living Centre. Nina loved her family deeply and was rarely absent from family events. She will be missed and remembered by all. The family wishes to extend its gratitude to the Saskatoon Heath Region Palliative Care nurses and administration for their wonderful care and support. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Western Development Museum (Saskatoon Branch Education Component), 2610 Lorne Ave S, Saskatoon SK S7J 0S6 would be appreciated. Prayers will be held at St. Mark's Anglican Church, 1406 8th Ave N, Saskatoon on Friday December 10, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. Memorial Service will be held at Park Funeral Chapel, 311 3rd Ave N, Saskatoon on Saturday, December 11, 2010 at 10:00 a.m., The Reverend Karen Sandall officiating. To send online condolences to the family, visit www.parkfuneral.ca . Arrangements entrusted to Cheryl Carlson.