Viola Block

The Funeral Service for Viola Block of Herbert will take place on Thursday, October 14, 2021 at 2:00 pm from Living Faith Fellowship Church in Herbert with Pastor Donovan Epp officiating. The service will be livestreamed and a link available the day of the service. The service was recorded and can be viewed here

Though there are no current provincial restrictions, social distancing will be observed and there will be limited seating available. If you are experiencing any cold or flu-like symptoms, the family respectfully requests you join them via the livestream and appreciates your consideration during this difficult time. 

The Private Family Interment Service for Mrs. Viola Block will take place from Herbert Cemetery, Herbert, SK.

In memory of Viola Block, donations made to Gideons International or The Cube Youth Ministry (479 Annable St, Herbert, SK, S0H 2A0) would be appreciated by the family.

Viola (Schapansky) Block, age 85, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at the Herbert & District Integrated Health Facility, Herbert, SK with her family by her side.

Viola was born July 10, 1936 on the family farm north of Glen Kerr, SK — the fifth child of eight to Peter & Elizabeth (Martens) Schapansky. She grew up on the farm and attended the Log Valley and Lady Bank Schools, where she completed grade eight.

She worked as a nanny and housekeeper for various families, including the Elmer Jahnke family, when she was 15 years old and also the Ralph Glydon family, before taking a job as a cashier at the Clover Farm Meat Market in Herbert. She also worked at the Herbert Nursing Home doing laundry for five years.

It was during her time at the meat market that she met and fell in love with Elvin Block, who was well known for his hockey and baseball skills. They dated for five years and got married on October 12, 1968. They had one son, Niel, who was born in 1971 and was Viola’s pride and joy. They lived in Herbert until 1974, when they moved to the farm northwest of Herbert. They spent many happy years raising Niel and farming before they moved back to town in 2003.

Viola enjoyed living in town and always enjoyed time spent with family, especially her two granddaughters — Hailey and Maddie. She loved babysitting them when they were young and enjoyed many tea parties, playing with dolls, lots of art projects, and baking. As the girls got older, she enjoyed watching their sports games and dance recitals until her illness made it too difficult for her to get out.

Viola had a strong faith and loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She became a Christian as a young adult, when she was approximately 30, and was baptized in 1971 when she was 35.  Viola & Elvin attended the Herbert Mennonite Church faithfully for many, many years. Later, the church changed names to what we know it today — Living Faith Fellowship Church.

Viola was an avid gardener and had quite a green thumb. She loved tending to her vegetable garden and flowers over the years and was a hard worker, always cutting the grass on the farm with a push mower, even when Elvin bought her a riding mower.

She had many friends and always loved going for coffee several mornings a week with them. She also enjoyed quiet time, doing crossword and sudoku puzzles, painting, and playing games on the computer.

Viola was pretty amazing when she got her first iPhone at the age of 80 and caught on to texting with no problem at all. She especially LOVED using lots of emoji’s.

Viola is survived by her loving husband of 52 years, Elvin Block; her son Niel (Kristi) Block; her granddaughters, Hailey and Maddie Block; her brothers, Alvin (Alma) Schapansky, Dan Schapansky, Cecil (Shirley) Schapansky, Harvey (Glenice) Schapansky, and Stan (Myrna) Schapansky; her sister-in-law, Margaret Schapansky; her brother-in-law, Jake (Tina) Block; her sisters-in-law, Lynn (Abe) Voth and Alvina (Alfred) Thiessen; and by numerous nieces and nephews.

Viola was predeceased by her parents, Peter & Elizabeth Schapansky; her parents-in-law, Peter & Helen Block; her siblings, Wes Schapansky and Eva Dyck; her sisters-in-law, Laura Schapansky, Helen Klippenstein and Bertha Block; and by her brothers-in-law, Henry Letkeman, Hank Block, and Elmer Dyck.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Viola Block, please visit our floral store.