LOVIE NAUMKO

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LOVIE NAUMKO (nee POPOWICH) 1938 2015 It is with deep sadness we announce that on Sunday, February 8, 2015, Lovie Naumko, our loving mother, passed away at the age of 76 years. Lovie was predeceased by her parents Paul and Julie Popowich and her husband of 45 years, Walter Naumko. Left to cherish her memory are her three sons Robert, David and Kenneth (Roxane). Mom was born Lavina Lucille Popowich on May 7, 1938, in The Pas, Manitoba, where her parents had settled and persevered through the harsh realities of a new, cold, northern climate as new Canadians. As a young teenager her family moved to Winnipeg and grew up in the Point Douglas area where she attended both Ukrainian and public schools. Her love of music led her to study and become an accomplished accordion player as well as singing in numerous choirs. She completed her formative years by graduating from St. John's High School. She furthered her schooling at the University of Manitoba where she earned and achieved a degree in Education. Upon graduation from university she taught at Selkirk High School both academically and as a coach for numerous and various after school sports programs. Her tenure was brief as a teacher as soon after she met the love of her life, Walter. On September 16, 1961, they were married and moved to their first apartment on St. Mary's Road to start a family. In 1963, they moved into their first house in a new suburban development called Kirkfield Westwood where they would reside their entire lives being instrumental in the development and evolution of the community. Mom was a gentle and compassionate soul whose love for people and exuberance for life was unparalleled. She was a social, kind hearted woman who had an unwavering passion for her community and family which resulted in cultivating many great friendships throughout her lifetime. This was evident in the many years she spent volunteering at local schools devoting countless hours to the library, arts, sports, science and music programs. Mom always put family first as a proud mother of three boys and as a devoted wife to her husband Walter, a respected civil engineer. Fondly remembered were all the times she supported, encouraged and cheered on her sons as hockey, soccer and tennis players. She was truly a "sports" Mom attending all our games and sharing in all our accomplishments and defeats with joy and pride in her heart, always mindful of teaching us the values of fairness, sportsmanship and humility. There were many family trips taken and we were fortunate to have seen much of North America by car. These adventures united us and the family bond became more solidified with each excursion. We shared many wonderful experiences with Mom on our vacations that have left us with a lifetime of treasured memories. We are so thankful to have been afforded these opportunities. Mom also loved animals, especially Roscoe and Fenway (her "other" boys). Mom's love of music and her encouragement for us to explore our creative nature inherently influenced us boys to pursue our own various musical endeavors. Whether it was Robert's piano engagements or Kenneth and David's band concerts, Mom was always in attendance to lend an open ear and offer her constructive critique and proud accolades. Her presence at these events was always reassuring and comforting. Mom was an avid reader who enjoyed all genres of literature. She had an incredible sense of humor with an uncanny knack for bringing levity to awkward circumstances. Hers was a true gift to lift the spirits of anyone feeling alone or down. She was a big fan of British T.V. comedy shows which brought her great bemusement. She enjoyed gardening tremendously as she always had an eye for beauty and created many visually appealing arrays of flora in her yard for all to admire. She loved riding her bike and put on many miles in the neighborhood delivering Avon for the better part of 27 years. One of Mom's great fortes was her ability to cook. She loved cooking and found great joy in providing her family and visitors to the house with memorable meals. She was proud of her heritage and our family reaped the rewards of her many delicious Ukrainian dishes over the years. One couldn't find better borscht or authentic Ukrainian food than in Mom's kitchen. The one thing Mom made sure of was that no one left her house hungry, a testament to her caring nature. Mom was a very generous person who always wanted to make a difference and do her part for the betterment of her community. She regularly donated to many local charitable organizations such as The Children's Hospital of Winnipeg, The Canadian Diabetes Society, The Heart and Stroke Foundation, The Winnipeg Fire and Paramedics Association, The Winnipeg Police Association, The Arthritis Society, Siloam Mission, The Salvation Army and The Winnipeg Humane Society. In her latter years, Mom's mobility was compromised by Arthritis and Osteoporosis and as a result her social calendar became more and more difficult to fulfill. We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation and thanks to her wonderful neighbors, friends and extended family over the years (too many to mention) who provided Mom with thoughtful gestures, assistance and companionship. We also would like to thank the home care workers who helped keep Mom in her home where she was most comfortable and was able to retain her sense of dignity. That meant everything to her. Thank you as well to Comfort Care at Grace Hospital for their patience and compassion. Mom was an inspiration, a teacher, a person who led by example, a beloved mother, wife and friend to many. We always knew we were loved unconditionally by her. She was a caring, loving soul who extended kindness to all with a beautiful sense of humor which brought out the best in her family and all who knew her. The memory of her gentle ways and her smile will forever keep our hearts and thoughts warm with peaceful recollection. In our grief and with heavy hearts we know we will continue to stand tall with pride, eternal admiration and respect for the best Mom in the world who gave us life, love and a lifetime filled with compassion, understanding and joy beyond what words can describe. We will continue our journey in life with her kindred spirit of love forever within us to fight the good fight as did she. We were blessed to have her in our lives. We love you Mom. RIP. A private family service has already taken place. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Lovie's honour to The Children's Hospital Foundation of Winnipeg. For those who wish to sign the online Guest Book please visit our website. Chapel Lawn www.chapellawn.ca 204-885-9715

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 14, 2015