May 3, 1932 - August 21, 2024

In loving memory ~

It is with great sadness to announce that Rosella Zyla (nee Gdanski) passed away peacefully in Comox Valley Hospice in Courtenay, BC the evening of August 21, 2024. She was 92 years of age when she slipped gently into the loving arms of her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

She was pre-deceased by her husband of 69 years, Dominic Zyla; and all but two (Henry and Ron Gdanski) of her 11 siblings.

Rosella is survived by her four sons and four daughters, and their spouses, 21 grandchildren, and 28 great grandchildren. Her children, Gary Zyla, Ken (Gayle) Zyla, David Zyla (Beverley Truman) Louise (Brendan) Bitz, Elaine (Jules) Durette, John Zyla (Dana Clay), Gail (Janusz) Szostek, and Christine Zyla (Terry Senuik); who will all greatly miss the spunk, laughter, music, and wisdom of their mother.

Rosella was born in 1932 in Fillmore, Saskatchewan, the ninth of 12 children to John and Apolonia Gdanski. She learned hard work, fun, play, and deep faith, raised with eleven siblings on a farm in the dustbowl of the prairies. She was a gifted musician, who had the opportunity to teach herself to play a piano that landed in their farmhouse by chance from her older sister Mary (Ludwig). This gift of piano playing carried Rosella from her 9 year old beginnings right through to her 90's.

She shared that gift with the community - as part of a band in the 1950's, as a teacher to countless youngsters in and around Fillmore through the 1970's and 1980's; and as the organizer of singing groups to entertain in Senior's Homes through the 1990's in Fillmore, the 2000's in Poplar Ridge, Alberta, the 2010's in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and from 2023 onwards in Courtenay BC. The echo of her yodels will ever be heard and felt by those who were graced by her entertaining musical skills.

Rosella married Dominic Zyla (from Tyvan, Sask) in 1953 and raised a family of 8 children through the 1960's and 1970's on her home farm two miles north of Fillmore, Saskatchewan. Her faith and prayers carried the family through the thick and thin of those times. She worked hard growing a large garden, processing food, sewing clothes, making batches of 100's of perogies, baking bread and teaching piano lessons. She was a spark of fun and laughter, always able to see the positive in any situation, and always grateful for her many blessings. Truly an Angel of a Woman.

The loss of Rosella will be deeply felt within our family and amongst all who knew her. We know that Heaven will be blessed with the charms, playfulness, music and spark of our mother.

In lieu of flowers, you can best remember Rosella by showering someone in your life with some laughter, love and music in her name.

We miss you Mom!

Donations to Comox Valley Hospice Society are also greatly appreciated.

Funeral service will be held at Christ the King Catholic Church in Comox, BC on Friday September 6, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. There will be a live stream of the service.

Interment of both Dominic and Rosella's ashes will be in Fillmore, Saskatchewan on October 19 of this year.