JOHANNA ZOEGA SKAPTASON

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JOHANNA ZOEGA SKAPTASON Johanna Zoega Skaptason passed away peacefully on November 12, 2016, just two months and one week shy of her 100th birthday. Mom was born January 19, 1917 at Silver Bay, Manitoba and was the second youngest and the last surviving of five children born to Bjorg Maitland Zoega Johnson and Sigurdur Johnson, who had earlier emigrated from Iceland. She had three sisters, Olga MacKinnon, Margaret Littleford and Jonina Cupples (Joan), and one brother, Stefan (Steve). They grew up in a loving family on a farm at Silver Bay, Manitoba. On September 7, 1939, Mom married Haraldur Marelius ("Marl") Skaptason who predeceased her on May 15, 1963. They had two children: a son, Harold Stephen (Stephen) and a daughter, Holly Anne (Holly). Tragically, on June 24, 1991, Stephen also predeceased her. Mom spent her entire life looking after others - her life was a virtual labour of love. In 1956, the family farm was sold and Mom and Dad welcomed Mom's wheelchair bound mom into our home in Winnipeg. Mom was only 39 at the time and this move severely restricted Mom's ability to do any of the things a young wife should be able to do including spending quality time with her husband or even getting out to go shopping. Not many years later when Mom was only 46 and Dad only 49, Dad passed away. Mom persevered without complaint for the next 53 years without him. Stephen was married in England and he and his wife Jean had two children - Hannah Jane and Timothy Marl. Hannah and Alex Greenlees have two children - a son, Ollie, and a daughter, Lottie. Tim and Claire have two children - a son, Joe, and a daughter, Holly. Mom was able to visit Stephen and his family in England for the first time in 1970 and visited many times again over the years, sometimes with Holly and family, and sometimes on her own. In Winnipeg, Holly married Jim Dreger and they had a daughter, Marla Jean. Marla and Tommy Tran have two daughters - Johanna (Yoey) and Olivia. Marla was the luckiest of the grandchildren because she was able to enjoy her Amma up close all the time. She recently described Mom as an amazing, intelligent, witty, resilient, and classy woman. I know Hannah and Tim agree with that description and have equally wonderful adjectives of their own to describe Grandma/Gramps. Mom will be very much missed by Reg Eyemoto, who took great pleasure in getting her the perfect cup of coffee. She will also be missed by Dad's cousin, Johanna Wilson. Mom was the most selfless person we have ever known. She would do anything for those she loved. Nothing was too difficult or too much work or too "anything" - her unconditional love conquered all. She was an amazing cook and baker who taught her family everything they know about being amazing cooks and bakers. With support for banking, shopping etc., Mom lived alone in her home until December 2008 when, at the age of almost 92, she finally moved in with me. When time permitted, as solo pastimes, Mom was an avid reader and loved doing crossword puzzles. A favourite family pastime was always Scrabble. Mom was a genuine logophile! She had a true love of words and would very often surprise us "young'uns" with obscure and arcane words that would make you wonder how on earth she knew that, but the dictionary always supported her. The other favourite pastime was bridge - both with family throughout the years and with neighbour ladies. Over the years, Mom and the family enjoyed nothing more than sitting around the kitchen table or the dining room table for some conversation with a good cup of coffee and a tasty treat of some sort - perhaps a piece of vinarterta, or some great chocolate cake or maybe some of her renowned date biscuits. Mom was always fiercely proud of her Icelandic heritage. Of course, Dad was also of Icelandic heritage so there was always a lot of Icelandic food and talk that I remember as a child, and Stephen and I would sit around the bridge table watching and learning as our parents played bridge with our paternal grandparents. We can't imagine anyone stronger or more loving than Mom - a legendary Mom, Amma, Grandma, "Gramps", Greatamma and Greatgrandma. The family is eternally grateful for a life well lived and loved. Preceded by comforting words of blessing and prayer from Pastor Michael Kurtz of First Lutheran Church, cremation took place and Mom's ashes have been interred with Dad at Brookside Cemetery. There will be no formal service held, but a celebration of life will be held in the New Year. Thank you to Neil Bardal Funeral Centre for their compassionate care. Floral tributes are gratefully declined but for those wishing to honour her memory, we know Mom would appreciate donations, in honour of her beloved mother-in-law, to the Jon Sigurdsson Chapter I.O.D.E., Anna Skaptason Memorial Scholarship, attention Alicyn Goodman, Education Officer, 1412 - 80 Snow Street, Winnipeg, MB R3T 0P8 or a charity important to you. NEIL BARDAL FUNERAL CENTRE 204-949-2200 neilbardalinc.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 19, 2016