We caught the old yellow school bus at our driveway, but it was not uncommon for it to be cancelled in a Saskatchewan winter storm. One of my best memories of going to school in Saltcoats was with the slightest threat of bad weather, I stayed at Nana’s house. She had electricity, television and was a great cook.
Talking about my early years would not be complete without mentioning Nana. Born in 1903 in Budapest her husband John, son John Jr and daughter Helen immigrated to Canada in 1929. They farmed a quarter of a section across the road from the land my parents would later purchase. After John’s passing in 1958 she moved into a small house in Saltcoats. It was here that I would stay during winter storms and walk to school.
Nana never really tried to learn English so communicating with her was often difficult. Like so many Eastern Europeans Nana was a fantastic cook. She made the best fried chicken in the world. She also had such a temper so don’t get her mad.
Nana had two other children, Jenny and Andy, who were younger than Helen. Andy was my idol growing up. He worked on heavy construction in B.C. He made very good money but like his father, drank way too much. Nana didn’t drink and after dealing with her husband’s drinking all her life would get very frustrated with her son’s drinking when he came home once a year at Christmas.
We would always go to Nana’s house on Christmas Eve. Andy would usually arrive in Saltcoats by vehicle at some point that day and go straight to the bar and meet his buddies. The bar closed at 6 PM and he would show up shortly after at Nana’s house quite inebriated but always ready for a good time.
One Christmas Eve, Andy was a few minutes late and Nana was very angry. She disappeared for a while and we all wondered where she had gone. My mom finally went out to the porch and discovered Nana standing behind the door with a cast iron frying pan waiting for her son to arrive. It was a blessing that she was disarmed shortly before Andy showed up.
Nana lived until 95 years of age and passed away in 1998.
1928 immigration papers for – John, Elizabeth & Helen Elizabeth Hudak;
Nana, with Kylee and Cody
Fred and Helen Liepert later in life
