MARY (MINNIE) HALLEM (SAMEC)

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MARY (MINNIE) HALLEM (nee SAMEC) On Wednesday, November 23, 2005, Mary Hallem passed away at the age of 84, after a three-week struggle with cancer. She was predeceased by her husband Tommy Hallem in 2003; parents Harry and Anna (Krisa) Samec; and brother William Samec. She leaves to mourn her passing her children, Teresa, Tom (Janice) and Christine (Rod Ward); her grandchildren, Joshua and Tommy Hallem, Shawn and Jennifer Stefiuk; twin sister Stella (Nick Synychych); uncle Paul Samec (British Columbia), uncle Mike Samec (California); auntie Stella Kapitan (British Columbia); special cousin Anne (Kapitanchuk) Balicki (Ontario); sister-in-law Mary Samec; brother-in-law George Demetrioff; sister-in-law Margaret Kachkan; sister-in-law Ann Hallem; brother-in-law Johnny Kate (British Columbia); numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, godchildren; special friends, Craig and Susan Penzick, Ray and Judy Delorme, Pat Bielak, Audrey Gardner, Trish and Charlie Fitzgerald (Campbellville), Albert Burpee, the Kehler family (Calgary) and all her pals at bingo and bowling. Mom was born on October 28, 1921, one of twins, in the North End of Winnipeg and attended school at Margaret Scott, King Edward and St. John's Tech. Her first job was at Eaton's Mail Order, and she then worked at two sewing factories: Western King and Superior Children's Wear. Starting around 1960, she worked part-time at Minchuk Catering in St. Boniface. Mom met Dad in 1946 and fell in love with his black curly hair. They were married on July 23, 1949, and honeymooned in Niagara Falls. Mom and Dad loved to dance, and they won every dance contest held at the Sokol Hall in St. Boniface. Mom continued to celebrate her anniversary after Dad passed away in 2003, and she even returned to Niagara Falls to re-visit the hotel where they stayed on their honeymoon. While we were growing up, Mom liked fishing at Lockport - with her family and in a ladies derby at the end of May of each year - mushroom- and blueberry-picking and camping. Mom attended St. Peter Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church for over 52 years and enjoyed her after-church lunches with the other two Marys at the Marion Hotel restaurant. As well as working on Saturday nights at the UNF Bingo on Marion Street, she also liked to play bingo there on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Mom bowled on Mondays with the Eaton's League at St. James Bowling Lanes and on Thursdays with the CN Vets at Polo Park, until a month before her passing. As Dad worked for CN, our family often took the train out to British Columbia or Ontario to visit relatives, but Mom really started to travel just before she turned 60. Her first big trip was to England and Wales, and then she caught the travel bug, going on three Blue Bomber cruises (one Mexican Riviera and two Caribbean cruises), to the Maritimes, to Florida with her cousin Anne, to DisneyWorld in 2003 with her grandchildren, to North Carolina, and on many, many trips on VIA Rail, whose staff she said treated her like a queen. Mom loved to meet people. At the end of each trip, she knew everyone on the cruise ship or train. Her zest for life and her energy endeared her to everyone she met. In recent times, a yearly girls' weekend away was planned with her two daughters and granddaughter to Grand Forks, to British Columbia, and the most recent trip in mid-November to Toronto to say good-bye to friends and relatives. She loved and was very proud of her grandchildren, Joshua, Tommy, her Shawn and Jennifer. Family was very important. Janice was her favourite daughter-in-law and Rod was her favourite son-in-law, best friend and confidant. Mom touched so many lives. Whether you knew her as Minnie/Mingka, Mary, Mom, Grandma/Baba, Auntie/Chocha, Mother Mary, Nurse Mary or Dancing Mary, she left you with a smile on your face and love in your heart. Everyone who knew her loved her. We all have such beautiful memories to share and ask that you help us celebrate her life. Prayers will be held at Edward J. Coutu Funeral Chapel, 680 Archibald St., on Monday, November 28 at 7:30 p.m., and funeral service at St. Peter Paul Church, 390 Marion St., with Father Peter Chorney and Deacon Michael Jacyna officiating, on Tuesday, November 29 at 10:00 a.m., with interment to follow at St. Boniface Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers are grandsons Shawn Stefiuk, Joshua and Tommy Hallem and cousin Mike Koncur. Pallbearers are friend Craig Penzick and nephews Bill and Peter Synychych, Greg Samec and Jerry and Tim Demetrioff. We would like to thank the VIA Rail crews between Winnipeg and Toronto (who took such good care of Mom on her final train ride) and Dr. Brent Zabolotny (Grace Hospital) who looked after Mom as if she was his own mother. We couldn't have asked for a more sensitive and caring doctor. In lieu of flowers, should you so desire, donations may be made in her memory to CancerCare Manitoba, 674 McDermot Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3E 0V9. VICHNAYA PAMYAT The Coutu family in care of arrangements: E.J. COUTU CO. FUNERAL DIRECTORS 680 ARCHIBALD ST. 253-5086

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 26, 2005