BERNICE SITKA

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BERNICE SITKA
December 20, 1940 - October 19, 2022

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Bernice Sitka at the age of 81 years. Just 16 days earlier Mom was predeceased by Merv, her best friend, childhood sweetheart, and spouse of 61 years. There is no time, there is no space, true love transcends all things.
Bernice, Mom, Baba, will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew her. Mom is survived by her children, Karen and Kevin (Jen), grandchildren, Cody, Connor, Madi and Katie, and grand-dogs, Oshie and Kooper.
Mom was born on December 20, 1940 in St. Boniface, MB. If busy hands are happy hands, Mom's hands were overjoyed from an early age and throughout her entire life. From the age of 10 Mom was helping her parents clean offices in the evenings after their day jobs, helping to raise her newborn sister, and unbeknownst to her at the time, becoming the world's greatest cook by helping her Mom with family meal preparation as well as weekend catering jobs. These early lessons of grit and hard work were invaluable. Mom graduated from Nelson McIntyre Collegiate while working part-time at Eaton's downtown. Her favourite department to work in was Toyland, especially around the holiday season. Mom's love of people, especially children, was unmistakable.
Beyond busy hands being happy hands, it is also said that the hands are the visible part of the brain. Mom's skill and creativity was unparalleled when it came to knitting, crocheting, sewing, and her favourite - intricate needlepoint pictures. Mom's loving and gifted hands made hundreds of toques, mittens, and scarfs throughout the years, that she anonymously donated to warm those most in need in our communities. Taking action to do what she could to try to help those around her was a common theme throughout Mom's entire life up to and including her final days.
Mom could, and often did, host homecooked meals for family and guests ranging from four to 80 people without blinking. Everything was homemade, fresh and/or came from her extensive canning effort from the pervious year; Mom knew nothing other than farm-to-table. Gatherings ranged from having family over for Sunday dinners, birthday and holiday celebrations for extended family, all the way to day-after-wedding-parties where space constraints of the small family home had guests spilling into the garage, driveway and backyard. It honestly didn't matter where you ended up, the love and hospitality were felt equally by all.
While Mom's life was firmly centered on her marriage, family, friends and community, she had even more to give, working several jobs throughout the years. These included working at the Union Stockyards, for Dr. Beasant in the Windsor Park Pediatric office as well as the very early shift at Kmart in Southdale. Mom's greatest 'non-job' was achieved when she selflessly retired from Kmart to begin to look after her grandchildren full time. It was through these many years that Mom was able to instill the values she was taught by her parents - empathy, kindness, giving, and the absolute power of unconditional love. It's impossible to imagine a greater gift for the next generation, although Mom would always comment that she received way more back in return. The deep bond and love shared was simply beautiful.
They say you always remember most how a person makes you feel...in two words, loved and full.
The family would like to thank Dr. Coates at the St. Boniface Clinic for years of dedicated and compassionate care for Mom, and the caring and compassionate staff at both Health Sciences Centre and Holy Family Nursing Home where Mom resided for only 19 days, but each filled with kindness and love; we are forever grateful.
In lieu of flowers, donations can please be made to the Heart & Stroke Foundation and/or a charity of your choice that offers warm clothing to those in need.
We'll end as Mom ended every phone call and in-person visit..."love you".
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 5, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Windsor Park United Church, 1062 Autumnwood Drive.

Family and friends may sign a
book of condolence online at www.desjardinsfuneralchapel.ca.

Desjardins Funeral Home
204-233-4949

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 29, 2022