Christine Schneider

Christine Borisenko Schneider passed away September 6, 2024 just 18 days after her 106th Birthday. Predeceased by her husband Norman, her brothers Peter, John and William as well as her sisters Kathleen, Anne, Mary, Nancy, Lillian and Dorothy. She is survived by her son Bruce (Sharon) Schneider, her daughter Donna (Neil) Foulds, grand children Stephanie (Ryan) Emmett (Archer), Leah (Greg) Hipperson (Peyton, Neve) and Shane Foulds as well as her brothers Edward (Iris) and David (Phyllis) and her sisters Pauline, Nell, Betty and Clarese.

Christine Mildred Borisenko Schneider was born August 19th, 1918 on the family homestead near Rabbit Lake, Saskatchewan. She was the fifth of sixteen children! Christine came from a truly remarkable family as several of her siblings are surviving and healthy into their 90's and 100's.

Christine took early schooling locally and grades 9 and 10 by correspondence. She paid $4 per year fee for her correspondence courses by doing housekeeping chores for a neighbour. She then completed grades 11 and 12 at North Battleford Collegiate, paying for her room and board by more housekeeping work. She graduated in 1937 and in 1938 began a training program for nurses at St. Paul's Hospital in Saskatoon.

Shortly after graduating from Nursing Christine joined her older sister Anne, also a nurse, in St. Catherines, Ontario to work at the General Hospital on the women's surgical ward. Her pay was $75 a month including meals.

Anne enlisted in the army in 1942 and Christine moved to Calgary where she did private duty nursing. Soon a nursing job was offered in Wainwright for $90 per month plus room and board. Christine enjoyed her time there as the local army staff organized many dances and social functions.

Not long after, Rose Gill Hospital in Rabbit Lake offered her the job of matron for an improved salary of $125 (with room and board) and Christine began work back home in December of 1945. She met her future husband, Norman Schneider, at the first dance she attended in Rabbit Lake.

Norman played guitar in a band called the Black Jacks at many of the dances they attended. The couple were married on July 7th, 1947. They built a home on Norman's family farm near Meeting Lake. Norman farmed and taught Farm School around the province for the University of Saskatchewan in the winter and Christine went back to nursing.

They had a son, Bruce, in 1950 and a daughter, Donna, in 1957. Later that year the family moved to North Battleford. Unfortunately, Norman passed away in 1960 from leukemia. Christine then had the challenge of raising two small children on her own, renting out their grain operation and getting their newly built house in North Battleford finished. She went back to nursing and became a head nurse on one of the wards at the hospital in North Battleford, eventually retiring in 1983. During her career, Christine helped bring many children into the world.

In retirement, Christine enjoyed gardening, knitting and spending time with her three grand children as well as her large extended family. She also travelled in the United States, Russia, Europe, the Middle East and Japan.

A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.