KAREN EVE KOWALCHUK

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

KAREN EVE KOWALCHUK On June 4, 2013 - sadly and far too soon - Karen Eve Kowalchuk passed away after a lengthy and courageously fought battle with cancer. Karen had turned 54 just the day before. Karen is predeceased by her mother Pauline, her father Joseph and her sister Beverley. Leaving to always cherish the memory and love of his Caroline is her husband and soulmate Christopher, and her children', Teekatu, Buddy and Ben. Karen is survived by Mrs. Janina Czuma and Stanley Skorupski, her Aunt Eileen in Ohio and numerous cousins both in Ohio and Winnipeg. Also, feeling the loss of her presence in their lives is Karen's oldest and dearest friend Jayne Kapac and Peg Yuen who considered Karen a sister and loved her beyond words. Karen was born and raised in Winnipeg. The majority of Karen's professional life was with Winnserv Inc. She started as a Residential Counsellor in February, 1980. In 1988, after proving herself both a strong advocate for the people supported by Winnserv and very knowledgeable in business, Karen was offered and took the position of interim Executive Director. She was then permanently appointed to the position in January, 1989. It is not an exaggeration to say that under her direction, Winnserv not only survived a very difficult time in its history, but went on to be one of the most responsible and respected agencies of its type in the province. She was brilliant in her profession. Where Karen really shone was her interactions with people. She stayed connected with the people she supported throughout her time at Winnserv and most of them saw her as a friend and ally, not a paid employee. Family members who had known Karen from the beginning also saw her as someone whose door was always open to them. She was trusted and respected. It didn't matter who it was - staff, family, people supported by Winnserv, Karen always took an interest in how they were doing; to listen when they were struggling either at work or in their personal life and she had the incredible ability to make people feel important - because to her, they were. Her value base was indisputable and she stood strong for the folks supported by Winnserv and for the staff. She was a great leader and inspired loyalty. Intermingled with that was a wonderful sense of humour that was never absent. Karen also ensured that the Winnserv office was a pet-friendly environment. Four-legged children' were always welcome. Karen was a passionate artist. She took it up as a way to unleash and nurture her creative side and ended up creating beautiful sceneries, portraits and very life-like paintings of her own and her friends' pets. She was gifted in her painting, and as with everything that Karen did, she would take it beyond perfection. The instructor in her art class could often be overheard telling Karen it was time to put down the brush - the painting was done. Karen loved her yard. Every year she would spend hours caring for her flower gardens. It was therapeutic for her and the fruit of her labour was always a spectacular yard. And oh, how she loved her solar lights. Anyone who has been in Karen's backyard knows this very well. Every time she went to the store she would come back with one or two more. You can never have too many solar lights she'd tell Christopher. She loved being in the yard in the evening with her lights twinkling around her. It was her Shangri-La. There are few people who after meeting Karen didn't walk away feeling uplifted. She made people feel at ease and comfortable. She will long be remembered as someone who gave 100% in everything she did and she would never expect of someone else something she wouldn't do herself. Saying good-bye to Karen is unbearable. It's inconceivable that we have to go on without her warmth and optimism. She was a beautiful woman with a beautiful spirit. But as sad as Karen's leaving is, those who knew and loved her (the count is many), know that because of who Karen is, her words, her advice, her laughter and her spirit will continue to live in our hearts. Don't be sad. We adore you Karen Kowalchuk. Special thanks to Dr. Lezack and Seven Oaks Oncology; and to Tannis Woods and the staff at Riverview for their amazing support. A very warm and heartfelt thank you to Harold Koslowsky and Rick Kotaska for their compassion. Should you so desire, a donation in Karen's memory can be made to either Winnserv Inc., or the Winnipeg Humane Society. Dearest Caroline, My wife, soul-mate and best friend - rest in peace my beautiful princess. God be with you till we meet again. Love Forever, Christopher (Daddy) Memories are like starlight - they go on forever.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 22, 2013