HELEN WAKULA

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

HELEN WAKULA November 2, 1924 January 17, 2013 It is with great sadness that our family announces the passing of Helen Wakula (nee Letkeman) on January 17, 2013 in her 89th year. Helen was born in the village of New Osterwick (now Dolinskoya) in the Chortitza settlement in the Zaporozhane region of Ukraine. Helen is descended from the original Vistula Delta Mennonites who came to the region from West Prussia during the reign of Catherine the Great and settled among the Zaparozhan Cossacks. In Goslar, Germany, where she had been forcibly transferred during the Second World War, Helen met and married the love of her life, Walter Wakula. In 1949, they immigrated to Canada, settling in Winnipeg. Helen worked hard to assimilate into Canadian culture and worked hard to help her family get ahead in their chosen country. Except for wintering in Phoenix, Arizona, many trips to Eastern and Western Europe and numerous vacations in Cuba, Helen has lived in Winnipeg ever since. A born storyteller, Helen had a gift for the gab. She was also a good listener, and dispenser of advice. In the 1960s, many a Morse Place teenager could be found sitting around her kitchen table, drinking instant Maxwell House coffee and discussing the mysteries of life until the wee hours of the morning. Helen loved playing cards and board games, especially when she was winning them. Helen loved working with her hands and was gifted in knitting and crocheting. In Phoenix, she gave classes and workshops to other snowbirds and was always available to help a fellow knitter or crocheter out of a jam. Helen is survived by her husband, Walter, Sr., son, Walter, Jr. (Michela), daughter, Norah (John), granddaughters, Alana (Bill), and Athena (Ian) and great-grandsons, Zak, Ryan and Andrew, her sister, Mary Peters, brother, Harry Letkeman and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to give a special thank you to the staff at Donwood Manor who looked after Helen with care and compassion during her four years at Donwood and palliative care during the final weeks of her life. A service and celebration of Helen's life will be held at Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Church, Munroe at Watt Street at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 19 followed by a reception. Interment to follow at All Saints Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please send donations to Donwood Manor Foundation at 171 Donwood Drive, Winnipeg, MB R2G 0V9.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 19, 2013