VELMA KESTEN

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VELMA KESTEN Velma Kesten passed away on September 4, 2012. She was predeceased by her husband Joe and brother Al Sprintz. She is survived by her daughter Roberta (Carman) Calderone, her son, Cyril (Helene) Kesten, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Velma was born in Bessarabia/Romania in 1914 to Malka and Yankel Sprintz. She and her family came to Winnipeg in 1921 to join her mother's brothers and their families. She attended William White School where she met her lifelong friends Sophie and Sally. Velma became a hairdresser and ultimately opened her own parlour, The MarVal, with her brother Al. She told many stories about her clients, their hair and her walk to work, winter and summer, over the Salter Bridge. She met Joe, her husband of 53 years, at a party and they were married in 1939. Velma's passion was her family, her parents, her brother, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her life's work was to take care of those around her. She was the ultimate balaboosta . Her cooking and baking was a significant part of her life. Her Roly Poly was famous and her gift packages were eagerly waited for by friends and family in Winnipeg, Montreal and Regina. Her grandchildren remember her Cowboy Cookies and her Hamantaschen. Her Lemon Pies were the best! She lived in her little house on Rupertsland, driving her 1972 Dodge Dart around the neighbourhood, cutting the lawn, shovelling the snow and keeping an eye on the kids in the neighbourhood until she was into her 90s. She moved into The Portsmouth and spent a few years there enjoying meeting new people and old friends and relatives. She had always told her children that she wanted to be in the Sharon Home when she couldn't take care of herself. She moved into the Sharon Home and was well taken care of there by Sarah and the staff on the second floor unit where she lived for the last years of her life. As she became less and less able to take care of her self her decency, concern for others and her sense of humour never left her. Despite not really knowing who her latest visitor might be she was always polite, interested in their and their family's wellbeing and was always genuinely happy to have the social interaction. Her favourite place was the lobby of the Sharon Home watching people. She died peacefully with Roberta and Cyril by her side. We want to thank her devoted care givers, Delore, Cyrie, Linda and Gloria.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 27, 2012