New Year’s Greetings 2011

To our Pitura/Petura Family

It is indeed a privilege to send Greetings to herald in the New Year – these greetings come from sunny Arizona – our winter escape for the past 24 years.

It is proper that we take a moment to give Gratitude for our Families and our Heritage. We are proud of our Polish roots and ever mindful of the hardships of our early Families as they immigrated to a new land and a new life in a country of freedom and opportunity. We give thanks!

Our family celebrated my 85th birthday on May 28th at the family farm in Domain. Our family tree has grown to 20 branches including 4th generation Emma, our first great grandchild. We are truly grateful and humble for such a Blessing!

These are changing and challenging times today! As we enter a New Year with Hope, let us keep in mind that people of “Faith” do endure.

Till we meet again, Best Wishes, Good Health, and may God Bless!

Carl F. and Clara Pitura

Sophie's Apple Sauce Cake

I am beyond excited to be sharing this recipe as it comes from my Great Grandma Sophie Pitura's recipe box. She emigrated from Poland in the early 1900s and married my Great Grandfather, Paul Pitura, who actually is the one who wrote most of these recipes on the cards. My Great Grandma passed away the year I was born, so I never knew her, however, I am feeling a little more connected as I make some of her 100+ year old recipes!

1 1/2 cups apple sauce (Slow Cooker Apple Sauce)
1 cup sugar
1 cup raisins
1 cup walnuts, chopped
1 cup maraschino cherries, halved
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup melted margarine

- Combine apple sauce, sugar, raisins, nuts and cherries together and set aside.
- Sift together dry ingredients. Mix wet and dry together, and add in melted butter margarine while stirring.
- Place batter in a greased 9x9 pan. Bake @ 350° for 60 minutes, or until knife comes out clean.
- Enjoy with a cup of coffee!

To take your taste buds for a walk down memory lane, click to see more Sophie's Recipes or visit my Prairie Story.

Sophie Pitura's Recipe Cards

Polish emigrants, Paul Pitura and Sophie Parnega married on November 19, 1906. Five sons were born to them, Frank, Stanley, Walter, and twins Carl and Joseph. They purchased a grocery store business in Winnipeg’s north end and operated it for some eight years. It entailed long and hard hours so they decided with a family of three sons that a better place to raise the family was on a farm in Domain – approximately 25 miles south west of Winnipeg.

Family values were very important being an officer of the Polish army brought with it discipline and respect, love and understanding. Paul and Sophie left a legacy of faith and a rich heritage; and some recently rediscovered recipes cards.

As I sit here writing this in 2010, it is almost unimaginable to me what my Great Grandparents went through to provide their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren (and so on), a "better" life.

In honor of my Great Grandma Sophie Pitura, I am beyond honored and excited to be sharing some of her recipes. My Great Grandma passed away the year I was born, so I never knew her, however, I am feeling a little more connected as I make some of her 100+ year old recipes!

To take your taste buds for a walk down memory lane, click here to see Sophie's Recipes or visit my Prairie Story.

Alison (Pitura) Zulyniak

5 Generations

Agnes Pitura is a Great Great Grandma with the arrival of the twins - Ryder & Peyton Legault.

Here are the generations:
1. Agnes Pitura > 2. Patricia (Pitura) Reschke > 3. Christine (Reschke) Enns > 4. Hayley (Enns) Legault  > 5. Ryder & Peyton Legault.

Carl F. Pitura Family Slideshow

Carl F. Pitura Celebrates 85 Years!!

We would like all members of the Pitura/Petura clan to join us in celebrating our Dad, Carl F. Pitura's, 85th Birthday on May 28, 2010. Dad, with Mom's support and love, continues to be the foundation of our family and inspires all of us daily. We would like to acknowledge and share our Dad's milestone and wish him many more birthday celebrations in the years to come......

All of our love to day and always,
The Children and Grandchildren of Carl and Clara Pitura
- Carolynne and John
- Calvin, Barb, Sheena (Tom) and Connor
- Cheryl, Craig, Katie ( Mike), Jennifer, Victoria and great grand daughter Emma
- Corinne, Don, Brenden and Caelyn

Happy Holidays!

Greetings to our Pitura / Petura Family Members,

It is indeed a privilege to write a few words of Welcome to our extended Family!

July 2010 would mark our sixth (6) year since our first Family Gathering in July 1995 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. As you may recall, Carl was not a computer person and relied on rolls of paper to establish our early roots and Family Tree. However, since then we have created the “Pitura Family Gathering 2001 Recollections and Family Histories” that was first compiled by Ken and Barb Pitura Norton. It was a job well done!

New in 2007 was our website/blog/portal. The Pitura Portal is a separate, private, password protected site that will allow our family to stay in touch with each other and to build a lasting tribute to who we are and to honor the memory of those who came before us. For this we need to thank Alison Pitura Zulyniak and Valerie Pitura Harasym for their initiative and work on our family blog and a new means of communication. Again it was a job well done!

Take a moment to review past happenings:

1995 - First Pitura/Petura Family Gathering in Domain, Manitoba on the farm of Clara & Carl Pitura and Family.

1998 - Second Gathering in Okotokes, Alberta with our hosts Ed & Elizabeth Pitura and Family

2001 - Third Gathering in Cobble Hill, British Columbia and our hosts were Ken & Barb Pitura Norton and Family and Franklin & Evelyn Pitura of Winnipeg

2004 - Fourth Gathering in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and our hosts were the Descendants of Paul Vincent Petura – Carol Petura Maudie & Mary Maudie Dean and Families

2007 - Fifth Gathering in Winnipeg, Manitoba and our hosts were Carolynne Pitura and the Pitura Family Cousins

2010 - Sixth Gathering by website/blog/portal

What a journey! Full circle! A Great Blessing!

Also in February 1995, Clara and Carl were invited to a Family Gathering at Priscilla & Wilbur Ahrens, family of Frank & Bess Pitura, to get acquainted and do some promotional work re: the upcoming Family Gathering in Winnipeg that July. Other members of the family are Dorothy & Happy Berry, Audrey & Ken MacMillan and Mary & Al Edwards. Priscilla set a dinner table for 25 family members and more were added. Just a great visit!

In summary, Clara and Carl are happy to have been a small part of the first idea to generate a Family Gathering. Brother Walter, who helped with seed money, thought the odds were against us in bringing people together. However, he did wish us well in our efforts. During the First Family Gathering we were very thoughtful of the support of our family members who encouraged each other and worked diligently before and during the event.

And really - all of the other Pitura/Petura Clan Families who contributed and hosted Family Gatherings in their respective provinces or states over the years have done an amazing job. Without your support and enthusiasm we would not have had the success we did.

We are very proud of our Polish Heritage and look forward to our family histories and continuing to discover our “roots” into the next generation!

Till we meet again... Season Greetings and Best Wishes and May God Bless!

Sincerely,
Carl and Clara

Season's Greetings!!

English: Season's Greetings!!
Polish: Wesokych Swiat zokazjie Bozego Narodzenia!!
Czech: Veselý Vánoce!!

Clara and I have a tremendous privilege to communicate in this high tech environment and wish the Pitura and Petura Clan a very Merry Christmas.

The Pitura/Petura Family blog was a portal created by the efforts of Alison Pitura Zulyniak and Valerie Pitura Harasym at the 5th Family Gathering in Winnipeg in 2007. Once again, this year we had an energetic committee under Carolynne Pitura, our eldest daughter, and her volunteers - to host us in Family tradition and special activities. Our 1995 pilot project with brother Walter and seed ideas have brought forth a growing, healthy Family Tree and we are appreciative of every ones efforts to this end.

Also - comes to mind - the Family members that have supported the Family Gatherings since 1995 and have contributed to the History and Recollections and now the web site. A big thank you!!!

Often we reminisce of our parents immigrating to the new country in the early 1950's and 1900's; working hard to learn the language and provide for their families. Let us not forget our roots and be thankful.

About our Family - Clara and I have 4 children and seven grandchildren ages 13-26 and a great grand daughter Emma, age 3 in November, daughter of Katie and Mike Klassen of Calgary.

Also, my sister in law, Agnes, Clara's oldest sister, celebrated her 91st in November and Clara and I celebrated 56 years of Togetherness - just a Great Blessing.

As some of you may know, Carl is a 12 year survivor of cancer. In appreciation of Dr. Ian Maxwell and the Oncology department of the Victoria General Hospital in Winnipeg, we have created a "Pitura Family Foundation" with an Endowment Fund to assist oncology patient care with services provincial health does not cover. The Fund will generate income to assist patient needs for years into the future. Donations by family members will be gratefully accepted.

When November arrived, Clara and I migrated like the Canada Geese to Mesa, Arizona. This has been our habit since 1987; it is our second home and winter escape and we enjoy our fiends of many years from across the Mod West and different parts of Canada.

Once again, we have a great legacy with in our Families. Let us be thankful for this great land and its Blessings and enjoy our new "Pitura Family Portal".

Christmas Greetings and a Healthy New Year. May God Bless.

With Love,
Clara & Carl F. Pitura

Thank you....

A very special thank you goes out to all of the Pitura/Petura Family members who traveled to Winnipeg in july this summer to participate and celebrate in our 5th Family Gathering.

For those of you who were able to join us, we thank you for your support and hope you had a great time reconnecting with family who you may not have seen for 3 years since our last Gathering or even longer. We appreciate you brining your pictures, stories, and enthusiasm. For those of you anable to attend, we know that you were with us in spirit.

I encourage everyone to continue to use our family wesite/blog to stay connected. Please post the most recent family news, stories, pictures and updates. Our Manitoba committee hope that this web site will continue to grow and develop over time and be a legacy of this Gathering. If you require assistance, please contact Alison Zulyniak.

I wish everone all the very best during the Holiday Season and health and happiness in the New Year. I hope that our paths cross again in the near future and that we all take time to stay connected in some way.

Season's Greetings!
Carolynne Pitura

Family Touch

To Touch the Past, Touch a Rock
To Touch the Present, Touch a Rose
To Touch the Future, Touch a Life