Sam (Kasian) Stadnyk . . . and Mary Stadnyk's Potato Salad

 I have not been much interested in blogging for some time now but am responding to 2 contacts expressing interest in my memories of Sam Stadnyk and his family.   One was from his grandson, Allan Parke.  The other was from Sheila Bunka whose boyfriend, Danny Stadnyk, is Sam’s grandson.  

Uncle Sam and Strayna Varvara lived just a mile from us, but they were in the Angusville district while we belonged to Foxwarren.  I believe they moved there around 1949, at the same time we moved to our farm.  They had a large family, but most of them were grown and were living elsewhere.  Ernie and Steve were a few years older than Nestor, Diana, and me, but we really liked them because, when they came over, they would play nicely with us.  I especially remember playing Kick-the-can.  Unfortunately, they did not come often; nor did we visit them often.

My cousin Steve was tall while Ernie was short.  This was typical as my uncles were a mixed bag when it came to height.  Uncles Paul, Alex, and Steve were over 6 feet but my dad, Uncle Sam, and Uncle Fred were of average height.  

I remember liking Uncle Sam.  One memory is of him standing in our kitchen when I was only a little girl.  He admired my pet bush rabbit and offered to buy it.  I refused but I must have enjoyed the attention because the memory is a pleasant one.

I also really liked Strayna Varvara.  She was a plump woman and very welcoming.  She deep-fried bread dough for us (sort of like elephant ears) and we LOVED it. 

I remember their parlour as being dim, roomy, and uncluttered with a large oval-framed portrait on one wall of a young boy.  This was Stanley, the son who had died when he fell off a hay wagon.  My sister, Anastasia, says that Strayna was devastated by this death.   

There was an old railway caboose or perhaps a trailer near Uncle Sam's house in which, I was told, he lived rather than in the house.  

The youngest of their daughters was Anne who moved to the Maritimes after she married but did come to visit us, perhaps twice that I remember.  Mom and Dad really liked her and she seemed like a really nice person. 

I believe it was Sam's daughter, Jean, who married Frank Presniak, and I have met some of Jean's family more often.

  

Sheila has helped me compile a list of Sam's children: Harry, Matt, Stanley, Martha, Emily, Jean, Sophie, Anne, Ernie, and Steve.  

I also remember that Uncle Sam died of stomach cancer and I was at his funeral when I was about 13.  There was a large reception in a Ukrainian Hall and I noticed a pretty young woman with a large lump by the side of one eye.  This was Sam's daughter, Sophie.  Mom told me it was a tumour and I think it was going to be removed once it grew large enough?!?

The funeral also was memorable because Uncle Fred (Sam’s brother and my dad’s) was there, but he was too proud to ask for a ride or a place to stay afterwards so, after the reception, he set off in the dead of night and winter to walk to Brandon!  Fortunately, someone saw him and stopped.

These are only hazy memories from long ago and I wish I had more.   

A couple of pictures in the Pozir book list Jessie's name and Martha Stadnyk and Henry Stadnyk but I can't identify them in the groups.

                                                                           My brother Matt and cousin Ernie

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You'll want second helpings of this!

MARY STADNYK’S POTATO SALAD

2 lbs potatoes, cooked

2 eggs, hardboiled and chopped in big pieces

1 stalk celery, finely diced

¼ cup dill pickles, finely diced

1 cup chopped dill, if you have it

2 or 3 green onions, sliced in ½ inch pieces

¼ cup chopped red or white onions

5 or 6 radishes, chopped

***

Dressing:

¼ sour cream if you have it.  Otherwise, use sweet cream or mayo.

¼ cup mayonnaise (this is besides what is suggested above)

1 tsp salt

½ tsp pepper

1 tbsp prepared mustard (Dijon or French)

***

Stir all together.