GERTRUDE KOWALSKI

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

GERTRUDE KOWALSKI Through sadness we find laughs and peace as we spend this time together loving and remembering our wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Surrounded by her loved ones, Gertrude Ann Kowalski passed away at Grace Hospital on March 26, 2018 at the age of 82. Gertrude, daughter of Jon and Marie Hofsted, was born in Winnipeg on May 7, 1935. She was predeceased by her caring brother John (Margaret) and her parents and is survived by her sister Lillian (Morris); her husband Walter and their many family and friends. She met her husband Walter at his brother's wedding in Transcona in 1949. Attracted to his charm, the two married on July 12, 1958 and had four children, Linda, Donna (Terry), Diane, Wayne (Shannon); eight grandchildren, Christine, Zackary (Ashley), Jesse, Angela, Hannah, Eric, Kyle and Emily; and two great-grandchildren, Carter and Austin. Gertrude and Walter lived in Winnipeg their entire lives, mainly in Charleswood. For many years, Gertrude ran a home daycare and spent her time with Walter volunteering at Roblin Park Community Center and was always involved with her children's and grandchildren's activities. She always helped the people she cared about in any way she could - her family could always count on her to be their nurse, mentor, babysitter, surrogate mother and friend. She always joked she had a revolving door because her many friends and family were always stopping in. They came for the company, though the fresh baked goods and coffee were always a bonus. Hosting was ingrained in her. Large family gatherings for birthdays, holidays and anniversaries always involved copious amounts of homemade food and treats. She passed this love for baking onto her children and grandchildren, where many summers would be spent making jam and winters making Christmas baking. While visiting, you would be taking your life in your own hands if you got in the way of her admiring Blue Jays, both the ones outside and the ones on TV. They were her team. Gertrude's sewing skills were always put to the test with her children's and grandchildren's homemade dance and Halloween costumes. She filled her days with her love for reading, crosswords and crafts; plastic canvas was her specialty, with pieces for every season and holiday filling hers and Walters home. Gertrude always expressed how incredibly proud she was of the accomplishments and success her loved ones had, even the smallest thing. Though we know she'll continue to smile down our way, there is an ache within our hearts that will never go away. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Winnipeg Pet Rescue Shelter. For those who wish to sign the online Guest Book please visit www.chapellawn.ca Chapel Lawn Funeral Home 204-885-9715

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 31, 2018