Peter Podhorodeski

Peter Podhorodeski had a force of life that will remain with us always.  He passed away peacefully on April 4, 2024 at his winter home in Dauphin, Manitoba. 

Peter was born in July 1932 to Pauline and Stanley Podhorodeski near Paddockwood, Saskatchewan. He was born with a thirst for knowledge, exceptional loyalty to his family and friends, and a deep love for all animals.

Peter attended the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon and attained his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education degrees. While employed by Forestry in La Ronge, Saskatchewan, he met a pretty, young teacher named Fanny who soon became his wife. They were blessed with 2 children, Sharon and Ronald.  Peter was employed as a school principal in Saskatchewan for 13 years and in Gillam, Manitoba for 4 years.  In pursuit of a Master of Education degree in Consulting, Peter took a one-year sabbatical at the University of Saskatchewan. Upon attaining his Master’s degree in 1975, he continued his career in education as a Reading Consultant for Frontier School Division, making Dauphin, Manitoba his home base. For 13 consecutive summers, Peter was a professor of education at Brandon University.  In his “spare time”, he constructed a cottage at Woods Creek as well as the family home in Dauphin. 

Peter and Fanny retired to Keremeos, British Columbia, where they became deeply entrenched in volunteerism. Peter served as Exalted Ruler for the Elks, Chairperson of the Senior’s Centre, President for the Okanagan – Similkameen District of the BC Senior Games, and Chairperson of their condominium strata. In addition to his volunteer work, Peter was a fiercely competitive sportsman, becoming a multi-trophy-winning champion of horseshoes and bowling. He was an avid cyclist, pool player, card shark and hiking enthusiast.  Every year on his birthday, he challenged us to count the number of ab wheel rollouts he effortlessly completed, a feat we could never dream of matching.   

After Fanny’s unexpected early passing, Peter spent winters in Keremeos and summers at the cottage.  Fortunately, he had the foresight to permanently move to Manitoba less than a year before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. He continued to spend his summers at the cottage, while spending the winter months in Dauphin with his granddaughter Carly and her family, diligently keeping her yard and roof free from snow. Peter eagerly anticipated returning to the cottage and his garden this summer, having enlarged it yet again last fall.

Peter is greatly missed by his daughter Sharon Andreasen (Eric), grandchildren Carly Armstrong (Dave), Jamie Armstrong, Anna Podhorodeski (Devon) and Sam Wasik, as well as great grandchildren Kai, Maycen, Milo, Ezmae, Asher, Annika and Noah.  He was predeceased by his wife of 47 years, Fanny May Podhorodeski, second wife Joyce Larson, son Ronald Podhorodeski, daughter-in-law Marilyn Kowalchuk, son-in-law Gary Armstrong, granddaughter Danika Armstrong, brothers Joe Podhorodeski and Walter Podhorodeski and his parents, Stanley and Pauline Podhorodeski.

As per Peter’s request, a small family gathering was held at the family cottage this summer.  In lieu of flowers, and in consideration of Peter’s love for all fur-bearing/feathered creatures, donations in memory of Peter may be made to the Parkland Humane Society, Box 805, Dauphin, Manitoba R7N 3B3, e-mail: pets12@mymts.net

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