LENA KORNIK (BALONYK BOYKO)

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LENA KORNIK (BALONYK BOYKO) February 10, 1912 March 18, 2006 Peacefully on Saturday, March 18, 2006, Lena passed away at the Arborg District Personal Care Home at the age of 94 years. Lena was predeceased by her parents, Wasyl and Anna Balonyk; her first husband Steve Boyko; second husband Walter Kornik (1967); her sister Mary Dziadekewich; brothers, Mike, Pete, Nick, Harry and Johnnie; her sons-in-law, Ed Schweitz and Tom Bell; her grandson-in-law George Meade. Born in Manitoba on February 10, 1912, Lena lived her entire life in Riverton. Along with raising her family, Lena was involved in many organizations and clubs in the community, Women's Institute, Djorfung Ladies Aid, Honorary Curling Member, 4H Club, The Lodge, running the Skating Rink Canteen (10 Years), making figure skating costumes, helping at Bingo and also a shareholder in a catering group for many years. Her home was always open to family and friends (the coffee pot on and a meal ready in 30 minutes). She enjoyed and shared her many talents including crafts, sewing, knitting, cooking, baking and especially playing cards and bingo. Oh those card games, usually on a Friday or Saturday, play two games stop for lunch, then two more games with Florence Johnson, Auntie Helen, Mrs. Spring, Eileen Zag, Helga Dahlman, Auntie Mary, Uncle John, Pearl Hadady and Anne Friska to name a few (all the grandchildren had to learn her version of gin rummy). She had a love for and took pride in her garden and flowers. Mum's life was of many hardships, being left a widow at the age of 22 with two babies and then widowed again at 55. She never complained and always made do with what she had. She worked as a cook for Sophie and then for Kaspar and Jean. Lena will be lovingly remembered by her children, Doris Schweitz of Red Deer, AB, Walter (Vivian) Boyko of Gimli, MB, Jane Bell of Stony Mountain, MB, Irene (Don) Hutton of Lac du Bonnet; her grandchildren, Don Schweitz, Wayne Schweitz of Red Deer, AB, Lori Boyko (George Wady) of Birtle, Cathy Boyko (John Lohman) of Minneapolis, Wes (Michelle) Bell of Minneapolis, Tania (Rob) Taylor of Abbotsford, BC, Terry (Val) Bergen of Fresno, CA and Leanne Hutton of Winnipeg; great-grandchildren, Ben and Kevin Schweitz, Luther Schweitz, Cleo, Haley, Josh and Ethan Butcher, Nicolai Lohman, Jack and Abby Taylor; brother and sister-in-law, Steve and Susan Balonyk of Portage La Prairie along with many nieces and nephews. Our heartfelt thanks go out to the entire staff at the Arborg Care Home for their excellent care and compassion over the past few years. Also a big thank-you to all Mum's Riverton neighbours who so carefully watched over her in her later years. Funeral service celebrating Lena's life will take place at the Arborg (MacKenzie) Funeral Chapel, Arborg, MB on Monday, March 27 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a charity of your choice or plant a perennial for Grandma. Don't cry because life is over Smile because it happened Til we meet again. Vichnaya Pamyat Arborg (MacKenzie) Funeral Home in care of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 25, 2006