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JUDITH (JUDY) DORIS LEHN
Born: Dec 27, 1947
Date of Passing: Feb 01, 2026
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryJUDITH (JUDY) DORIS LEHN
Judith (Judy) Doris Lehn (nee Podolsky) passed away unexpectedly yet peacefully and naturally on February 1, 2026, at Riverview Health Centre in Winnipeg. Judy was born in Vita, MB on December 27, 1947, to Lillian (Eliuk) and William (Bill) Podolsky of Gardenton, MB. She is survived by her siblings Arlene (Ivan) Kowalchuk, Kenneth Podolsky, Audrey (Raymond) Mireault, Robert Podolsky, Valerie (Bill) Badlo, sister-in-law Sylvia (Samborski) Podolsky; nieces and nephews: Jackie, Derek, Bruce, Crystal, Michael, Jason, Alexandre, Chantelle, Elliott, Bennett; and great nieces and nephews: Farrah, Cole, Addison, Hudson, Helaina, Jordan, Jillian, Michelle, Lóa, Anaïs. She is predeceased by her parents and her dear brother John Podolsky.
Judy’s adventurous spirit and creative character were evident from childhood and continued into adulthood. Judy attended to her younger siblings and included them in her adventures regardless of their age difference. She was artistic. Her love of sketching transformed the attic ceiling of her childhood home into a secret mural. Judy designed and sewed the Halloween costumes for her four younger siblings, a labour of love. She was also athletic and won several track and field competitions. As a teenager, she moved to Winnipeg to complete high school. Judy enjoyed city life in Winnipeg with her sister Arlene, her older brother John, and several friends from Gardenton. Upon graduation, she worked at Eaton’s despite being accepted to design school in Montreal.
She loved the culinary arts and sommellerie. To the delight of her family and friends, she was a gifted cook and baker. In 1983, Judy made her culinary dream come true by purchasing what became Deeds Deli in the Winnipeg Exchange District. For many years, Deeds Deli was the go-to place for many local business people. Deeds Deli also catered many elegant wedding receptions at the Centennial Concert Hall and the WAG. The network of patrons brought great joy to Judy. She also had a successful, rewarding career in human resources at the Winnipeg Public Library, and the Interlake Health Authority where she forged lifelong friendships. Upon retirement, she became involved in the preservation of heritage buildings, especially the first Ukrainian Orthodox Church (St Michael’s) built by her ancestors located near Gardenton, MB. She was also dedicated to the preservation of heritage buildings in Osborne Village.
Judy lived a cosmopolitan lifestyle. She discovered the world through social connections, art, literature, theatre, the symphony and travel. She traveled to various Canadian, American, Mexican and international destinations like Bermuda, Ukraine, China and Thailand. In her younger years, she camped and kayaked in the Canadian backwoods. Judy’s home on Gertrude Avenue reflected her love for vintage homes, her flare for design, antiques, provocative artwork, an impressive collection of vinyls, and treasures from her travels.
Throughout her life, Judy fostered strong relationships with her family and friends. She nurtured the imaginations of her siblings, nieces and nephews through creative storytelling and fantastic make-believe adventures. She attended countless birthday parties, baptisms, recitals, graduations, picnics, and beach days. She was the book and ornament aunty who always found a way to make holidays, milestones and everyday moments extra special. She treated her young nieces and nephews with dignity by listening and engaging them in her world. She loved her nieces and nephews, and they love her.
Judy was gregarious, curious, and engaging. A quick phone call or visit would become a deep conversation peppered with insights and laughter. She maintained dear friendships with aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbours, and colleagues. Her love of people and conversation brought joy to others throughout her life, including the Riverview staff and residents. Simply said, Judy enriched our lives. She was very special. She was extraordinary. She will be dearly missed. Vichnaya Pamyat; Memory eternal.
The family would like to thank the Riverview staff for their compassionate care of Judy.
The funeral service will be held at All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 1500 Day Street, Winnipeg at 10:00 a.m. on February 14, 2026. Memorial donations may be made to the Riverview Health Centre, 1 Morley Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3L 2P4.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 07, 2026