It is with heavy hearts that we announce Jaret’s passing.
He was a Father, a Son, Brother, Brother-in-law, Uncle, Nephew and Cousin. We will all miss him, cherish his memory and love him forever. He will live on in our hearts. It is hard to believe that he is gone but in time we will be together again.
Jaret, we loved you your whole life and we will love you and miss you for the rest of ours. (Mom and Dad)
Family and Friends are invited to share memories and condolences on Jaret’s memorial page by using the comment field below.
Doreen passed peacefully on March 7, 2023 following a brief illness. She will be missed dearly by her sons Kevin and Jeffrey, daughters-in-law Anita and Linda, and grandchildren Nelson and Jessica. She was predeceased by her husband Ken, parents Henry and Molly Horn, and brother Gary.
Doreen was born and raised in Winnipeg’s North End. She faced many adversities during her life, none more devastating than the sudden and unexpected loss of her beloved husband Ken. She managed with courage and strength, along with support from her faith, family and friends. She persevered and successfully raised her two boys as a single mom. She remained strong, courageous and supported through a variety of health challenges.
She was eager and quick to assist any family member or friend in need. The doors to her house were always open and accompanied with generous hospitality. Her friends, cousins and other relatives meant the world to her. She loved hosting her out of town visitors. She also had many memorable adventures travelling with her friends, but equally enjoyed their regular Saturday dinners or Sunday drives. She loved lounging in the sun and the times spent with Jeff and Linda at the lake.
She cherished her two grandchildren and loved seeing their growth and development. She was so proud of them and their accomplishments.
Her flower gardens kept her busy during the spring and summer. Evenings were often spent admiring her impatiens and geraniums from either the front porch or back screen room with a cup of coffee or a Coke and a chocolate bar in hand.
Doreen loved animals especially birds, with ducks being her favorite and subject of much of her talented needle work. The visits from the family dogs always brought her comfort and a smile. Doreen never missed giving them her famous “skritching” behind the ears.
She lived in her home independently until 2017 when her memory loss, the only health challenge she could not defeat, prevailed. Her memory progressively failed and ultimately prevented her from living safely on her own. Ironically, she could remember details from decades gone by like yesterday, but had limited capacity for recent recollection.
Luther Home then became her new home. Doreen received exceptional care there. She participated in many events and activities. Music therapy was one of her favourites. Regular visits from family and friends continued, along with dinners and celebrations of special occasions, until the pandemic interfered. Then visits were managed with precautions in the visitation pod or outdoors when permitted. She was fortunate to have avoided COVID. Her family remains thankful for the precautions taken and the home’s extraordinary efforts in that difficult fight.
Her 92nd, and last birthday was celebrated happily In January with a Jeannies cake, of course. She enjoyed it to the last crumb.
A celebration of her life will be held on Friday, June 16 at 11:00 a.m. at Larter’s Golf and Country Club, 30 River Road, St. Andrews.
In memory of Doreen, donations may be made to Luther Home 1081 Andrews Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R2V 2G9 or to a charity of your choice.
Family and friends are invited to share memories and condolences on Doreen’s memorial page by using the comment field below.
Please note: there is a delay between when a comment is submitted and when it appears on the memorial page.
The family wishes to announce Bunny’s passing on Saturday, May 27, 2023 at the Holy Family Nursing Home, Winnipeg, MB.
You may know her as Bunny or Elsie. You might know her as Orysia, or Auntie Bunny, or Baba. No matter how you knew her, you were blessed to know a compassionate, generous, creative, funny, intelligent, independent, and talented woman who lived a full life.
Bunny Sklepowich was born Orysia Ewonchuk in Rosa, Manitoba in 1938. She grew up attending a country school and worked on the Ewonchuk farm with her family, parents Mike and Mary Ewonchuk, brothers, Peter, Jerry, and Bob, and sister Evelyn. Orysia attended teacher’s college and met and married Modest Sklepowich in 1955. They welcomed son, Michael-William, affectionately known as Mickey Jr., in 1959. Mickey Jr. later had two sons, Reed, in 1997, and Quinn, in 1998.
Mickey and Bunny, as they were later known, began appearing together on musical stages across Canada in 1964. Their repertoire included Ukrainian, Polish, German songs, and country music with a popular Canadian version of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land”. In the 60’s they were accompanied by the D-Drifters-5, an instrumental group led by the accordionist and bass guitarist Dave Roman, known for their Ukrainian versions of songs by the Beatles and other pop groups of the day. Mickey and Bunny received from His Worship Mayor Stephen Juba his highest award, “The Community Service Award” for their many years of dedicated work, charity performances and their unforgettable concert tours. They recorded music still being played on radio stations in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, and are remembered as major contributors to Canadian folk music and Ukrainian-Canadian culture. Mickey and Bunny can still be seen on YouTube performing during a revival of the group in the 2000s during which they played at the Ukrainian Festival in Dauphin, Manitoba and numerous other venues and events.
Bunny went on to obtain her bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Manitoba and worked for Indian and Northern Affairs for more than twenty years. In this career, Bunny helped children in Northern Manitoba communities to develop literacy and math skills. She later worked for the Estates unit of Indian Affairs, where she helped aboriginal families to manage their estates and end-of-life legal processes. Bunny also supported many community organizations including the Ukrainian Musicians Association and Folklorama.
Bunny was a faithful and devoted Baba to grandsons, Reed, and Quinn, who are now 26 and 25, respectively. They spent time at her home in East Kildonan cooking together, doing crafts, learning to read, and playing exciting games of coffee table bowling. Bunny taught Reed and Quinn Ukrainian and they even got to go on stage with their Baba and Dido a few times during the revival. Bunny never missed Reed or Quinn’s piano recitals, soccer games, or graduations. Reed and Quinn remember her as a joyful and inspiring grandmother, and report that their memories of childhood are always pleasant thanks to her endless creativity and imagination, but above all, her love and devotion to her family.
Bunny will be dearly missed by Reed and Quinn, sister Evelyn, sister-in-law Pauline, brother Bob, sister-in-law Shirley, and niece and nephew Marianne and Ivan. Other nieces and nephews include Ryan and Stacey Ewonchuk, Chris Till, Michelle, and Marc Ewonchuk, and beloved spouses and children of all. We can never forget all the people Bunny touched through her music, her tireless work for Indian Affairs, and her support for the Ukrainian-Canadian community in promoting Ukrainian language and culture. There are too many to possibly name.
Bunny is predeceased by parents, Mike and Mary Ewonchuk, brothers Peter and Jerry, former husband, Mickey, and son Mickey Jr.
Cremation has taken place and a private Panakhyda Service and interment will take place in Rosa, MB at a later date.
Family and friends are welcome to share memories and condolences on Bunny’s memorial page by using the comment field below.
Peacefully on May 19, 2023, Ashley McKay passed away at home at the age of 62.
Ashley was born March 14, 1961 to Donald and Gladys McKay. He grew up in Granton, ON. He was the 3rd youngest of six children. He is predeceased by his dad, Donald McKay and sister Mary.
Ashley remembers and cherishes the times that he spent with his grandparents on their farm. In his early teens he worked on a beef farm in Ontario.
He moved to Winnipeg, MB with his first wife and they had two children, A.J. and Melody.
Many years later he met Karen, who would become his best friend and soul mate. They married and were blessed with 3 children, Joshua (Sara), Katelyn (Marshall) and Matthew.
Ashley worked in Winnipeg as head supervisor and awesome cook at Salisbury House. From there he decided to go to Adult Ed to further his education. After Ashley and Karen married, he soon began his favourite position as stay at home dad. It was also during this time that he started his career as a courier for the Winnipeg Free Press until he retired in 2020.
Ashley loved cycling and camping and went on many long distant bike trips. He loved to fish and it was in these remote and beautiful places that he experienced God’s presence and peace. He took Karen on a couple of bike trips to the Whiteshell and Rushing River. Ashley loved our family road trips (with the car) and camping with his children as they grew up. Bird’s Hill soon became the regular campground that we would live at for many summers.
Ashley was a very talented person and somehow knew how to do everything and anything he put his mind to. He taught himself how to work on our cars and renovating our house so that his family was always taken care of and had the best. He taught his children to work on cars and many other skills, although no one wanted to be the one to hold the flashlight. He taught them to build and fix their own bikes and soon the kids would look forward to our trips to the dump to buy their next project or part they needed.
Ashley was the baker in the family and loved the holidays. He was famous for his butter tarts and peanut butter cookies. He loved our family gatherings and felt blessed to be part of it. He had a very expressive personality and would talk your ears off. He was genuinely interested in those he would talk to.
We always had dogs in our home; he was always comfortable with dogs and loved them. He would want to ‘visit’ the Winnipeg Humane Society, but I knew that meant we were coming home with a dog. One visit he was so connected with a senior dog that we had to adopt her as we were her last chance.
Our family would like to send our deepest appreciations to the doctors and nurses that cared for Ashley during his illness. I know they couldn’t help but get to know him and he always was thankful and cared about them.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 17th at 1:00 p.m. at Crossroads Church, 2001 Manitoba Ave., Selkirk, MB with Rev. Neill Stitt officiating.
Due to allergies, please refrain from wearing colognes or perfumes.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength, they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40: 30-31
Family and friends are invited to share memories and condolences on Ashley’s memorial page by using the comment field below.
It is with profound sorrow that we share the sudden passing of Thomas Frank Raabe on April 3rd, 2023.
He is survived by his brothers Michael (Shelley). Norbert (Kathy), sister Monica (Rob) as well as his nieces and nephews; Chelsea, Chase, Nicole, Taryn and Ryan, whom he cherished deeply.
He was predeceased by his father Kurt, and recently his mother, Brigitta.
Tom was born on May 31, 1957 and grew up in Garden City. There he attended H.C. Avery School, Jefferson Junior High and Garden City Collegiate. He graduated high school in 1975 and that same year the family moved to West St. Paul. In 1979 Tom graduated from the University of Manitoba with his Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree.
Tom was an extremely devoted and hard-working employee who took great pride in his 37 year career as a Network Planner with the Manitoba Telephone System, from which he retired in 2015. He was always one to lend a hand and this helping spirit lead him to start his post-retirement business, Prime Renovations. None of his woodworking jobs however gave him more joy than building his home with his dad in 1985, and the passion for woodworking continued until his passing. He would often be puttering in his shop and was a Jack- of-all-trades; he could build anything and there wasn’t a project that he didn’t have a tool for!
Our brother had our dad’s spirit; passionate about things he believed in, and being a man of conviction, he wasn’t afraid to voice his thoughts about what was right, or what was wrong. He loved a good debate! Above all, he had a huge heart for those less fortunate, and prior to his passing volunteered with Siloam Mission.
Tom loved music, and was one of Bruce Springsteen’s biggest fans. One of his favourite pastimes was watching Jets games and he treasured spending time with his friends, especially long-time buddies Irv, Dean, Gerald, Len and Doug. He will be missed by many others who had the good fortune to know Tom for the kind soul he was. Tom is missed by his family beyond measure, and the void felt by his sudden loss is indescribable.
A celebration of Tom’s life will be held on Tuesday, May 30th at the Rivercrest Inn (4200 Main St., West St. Paul) from 7-9 pm. All are welcome to attend (come and go).
He will be laid to rest with his parents on May 31st at a private family ceremony.
In lieu of flowers, we ask that you honour Tom by making a donation to a Mental Health charity of your choice, or to Siloam Mission.
You will never be forgotten, dear brother, uncle and friend.
Family and friends are invited to share memories and condolences on Tom’s memorial page by using the comment field below.
