LYDIA HELENE RAKOWSKI

Condolences & Memories (8 entries)

• We are saddened hearing about the passing of Lydia - please accept our condolences. - Posted by: Pat and Kendra and Dianne (Winnipeg Hearing Centres) on: Dec 19, 2018

• I have very fond memories of Mme Rakowski from my days at Munroe Jr High. She was truly one of the best teachers I had and although she was tough and her expectations high, she was always fair and she was always smiling and laughing. So many wonderful memories of her taking the class to the lake and travelling to Quebec during our grade 9 year... what a great trip it was! My sincere condolences to her family. Rest in peace Mme Rakowski - Posted by: Lorrie Rogalka (nee Kendel) (Former Student) on: Dec 18, 2018

• Our thoughts are with you all as you celebrate the life of Lydia. We have lots of good memories of her at the many family gatherings in Winnipeg. She was so proud of her Rakowski family. Love from Annette and Bas in Victoria - Posted by: Annette Laurin (Family member) on: Dec 18, 2018

• I also remember Mrs. Rakowski from her days teaching French at Munro Jr. High School. I suspect I was not her best pupil, although I am sometimes surprised at the number of French words I still remember. But it was a story she told about her time in France during WW2 that made quite an impression on me. I don’t remember the exact details but it involved riding a bicycle out of the path of destruction. Every class after that, I imagined Mrs. Rakowski on her bicycle, tall and strong, hair streaming behind her, keeping ahead of the destruction. She impressed me as a very strong woman and when I saw her obituary, it brought the age to mind again. Condolences to her family. - Posted by: Margaret M. (Past student) on: Dec 18, 2018

• Although she taught me many decades ago, I think frequently of Mme Rakowski with great fondness. She was such a wonderful French teacher and taught me with great patience and encouragement. I grew to love the French language because of her and continued to study it in numerous venues. She coached me in French verse competition for several years and accompanied me to the finals where I earned a trophy due to her tutelage and was then recorded in a CBC studio. The poem selected for anglophone students in my grade was a very sad one for a 14-year-old, Soir d'hiver par Émile Nelligan, and Mme Rakowski spent countless hours helping me to achieve the appropriate tone. To me she was so elegant and refined. I wanted badly to accompany her to Paris on our class trip but was unable to. Thank you, Mme Rakowski, for what you gave to me. All my best to her family and everyone who loved her. - Posted by: Joy Tataryn (former student) on: Dec 16, 2018

• So sorry to hear of your Mother's passing Lala. Our prayers and thoughts are with you and Charlie and all the family. Todd and Gail - Posted by: Todd Forster and Gail Kotowich (Know Lala and Charlie thru their Neighbour Tom and Rowena) on: Dec 15, 2018

• My sincere condolences on the passing of your mère, grand-mère, and arrière grand mère. “Mrs. Rakowski” taught me French way back in the early 1970’s. Everything I remember and know about the language is because of her. She was a kind and thoughtful teacher who built my confidence at that oh so difficult time of life - the junior high years! I’m certain there’re are hundreds more past students who remember her fondly. You were blessed to have such a mother. She will be missed. - Posted by: Janine Harasymchuk (Past student ) on: Dec 15, 2018

• Have known Mrs Rakowski since my school days at Munroe Jr High (mid 60s). What a pleasant teacher. She cared dearly for all her students. I remember her taking me under her wing and coaching me in a french poetry competition. She was so proud of me when I placed second in the finals. I still have the poetry book she awarded me. Being a neighbor at Twin Beaches we got to see her and her family throughout the lake season and have lots of fond memories. RIP - Posted by: Kerry Kist (Long time neighbor at Twin Lake Beach) on: Dec 15, 2018