OLGA KARASIUK (PAWLIW)

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OLGA KARASIUK (nee PAWLIW) It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Olga Karasiuk (nee Pawliw), beloved mother, grandmother, and wife, on November 10, 2017 at age 92 while in care at Concordia Place nursing home in Winnipeg. Mom was the backbone of her large family and a constant source of joy, comfort and support for her devoted husband of 63 years, Vic Karasiuk and their five children. Along with Vic, Olga is survived by her daughter Lori Jane Caple (Karasiuk) of Littleton, Colorado and sons, Brian and Dale of Winnipeg , Ken of Oak Park, California and Brent of Columbia, Missouri; daughters-in-law, Nadene Kouk-Karasiuk, Kathy Karasiuk, and Rachel Karasiuk and son-in-law Mike Caple; grandchildren, Krystal, Sarah, Allie, Luke, Kelsey, Karly, Drake and Nicole; great-grandchild Jasper; and sisters, Nettie Kerelchuk of Yorkton, Saskatchewan and Adeline Lahoda of Calgary, Alberta. Olga was predeceased by her grandchildren, Nicholas Karasiuk and Kandice Karasiuk; her parents, Mike and Marie Pawliw; sisters, Lena Biblow, Maggie Malinowski, Anne Hnidey, Deloris Pawliw, Katherine Bednas and Sophie Pawliw; and brother Bill Pawliw. Mom was the sixth of ten children (nine girls and one boy) born on the farm near Springside, Saskatchewan on September 11, 1925. In 1943-44, she completed her studies at a teachers college in Regina and cherished her first job as a schoolteacher at Poplar Leaf School. Eventually, she was entrusted with providing the leadership for a one-room schoolhouse near her hometown of Theodore where she was responsible for teaching over 45 children across all grades. Olga then moved to Yorkton where she worked for a local car dealership and met her husband Vic at the boarding house where they both lived. Olga and Vic were married on February 2, 1954 in Tway, Saskatchewan. Dad was transferred from his position in Yorkton and they began living for 17 years in Saskatoon and then subsequently moved to Winnipeg in 1971 where they resided for 46 years. Mom's faith in the Roman Catholic Church was unwavering and both she and dad were long time parishioners at St. Phillips Church in Saskatoon and St. Bernadette's Parish in Winnipeg. Mom took immense pride in her family and grandchildren while her husband and children enjoyed her extraordinary homemaking and parenting skills. She was an accomplished artist, gardener, bridge player, seamstress, teacher, cook and baker with family and friends clamoring for her closely-guarded recipes. Mom loved to laugh and entertain while being around family and friends and she devoted countless hours to preparing truly memorable holiday meals and dinners for guests. She was always up for a new adventure, whether that meant riding the front car of Space Mountain at Disneyland or a live camel at Sea World on family vacations. Travelling was always one of mom's enjoyments - just to name a few of her adventures, yearly trips to western Canada and memorable trips to Hawaii and Expo 67 in Montreal were among her favorites. Mom and dad also spent a few months every winter in Palm Springs, California, which was a big part of their retirement routine for over a decade. While there, mom became an expert on many things including date shakes, swap meets, Trader Joes and visits to Disneyland. Mom thoroughly enjoyed any and all opportunities to spend time with her grandchildren. Her love and support of all the grandchildren was unconditional and they all received enormous amounts of attention, encouragement and surprise gifts - she liked nothing better than spoiling them with special purchases from her regular trips to K-Mart, Safeway and the St. Vital Mall. Each of them will also have many fond memories of the times they spent together in the kitchen of the family home at Gleneagles Road as grandma treated them to all sorts of homemade specialties like her perogies, soups, potato pancakes, shortbread cookies and icing sugar donuts to name just a few! Above all else though, Olga was known for her enormous and giving heart. She never had an unkind word to say to anyone, regularly sharing encouragement and a warm smile for anyone in need, no matter what their circumstance. While she will be dearly missed by all, Olga's love for life and kind spirit will live on for generations to come through the life lessons she taught so well during her lifetime. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the extraordinary nurses and all the personal care providers and staff at Concordia Place Nursing Home and Comforts of Home-Care who lovingly cared for Olga along with her husband Vic during her final years. A memorial service and Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday November 21, 2017 at Green Acres Funeral Home, Hwy. No. 1 East at Navin Road, Winnipeg, MB. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Olga's memory to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba, 10-120 Donald Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 4G2. GREEN ACRES Funeral Home and Cemetery (204) 222-3241 Condolences may be sent to www.greenacresfuneralhome.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 18, 2017