HELENE ORLAW (DOJACK)

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HELENE ORLAW (nee DOJACK) Helene Orlaw (nee Listiak - Dojack) passed away peacefully on October 15, 2007 at the age of 97 at the Golden Links Lodge in Winnipeg. Helene was born on March 12, 1910. She was predeceased by her daughter Barbara Tetrault (nee Listiak), husband Fred Orlaw, first husband Daniel Listiak, sisters, Bertha Orlaw and Martha Rispler, brothers, Frank and Charles Dojack, parents, Frank and Rosa Dojacek. She is survived by son Alan Listiak (Martha), son-in-law Laurent Tetrault, grandchildren, Danielle and Marcel Tetrault, Patricia MacIntosh and David Burch, great-grandchildren, Brendon MacIntosh, Audrey and Andrea Burch, and numerous nieces and nephews. Growing up in Winnipeg, the Dojacek home was a support and refuge for many immigrants from Europe. In addition to Czech and Slovak, German, Polish, and Ukrainian were the common languages spoken at home as new immigrants used the Dojacek home as their entry point to Canadian life. Helene inherited a passion for music and was a gifted teacher. After receiving her license from the Royal College of Music (London), she opened her Studio of Pianoforte and Theory on Alfred Avenue in Winnipeg in 1929. She was an accompanist for many soloists and the Winnipeg Strings in the 1930s. Her favourite composers were Liszt and Chopin. She received her teaching certificate and taught in several schools in Manitoba in the 1930s. In 1940, Helene married Daniel Listiak, a dentist from Minneapolis. They made their home in Dallas, Texas where Dan taught at Baylor University. They later returned to Minneapolis where Dan accepted a position as professor of dentistry at the University of Minnesota. Alan and Barbara were born in Minneapolis. After Dan passed away in 1954, Helene and the children moved to Winnipeg to be near her family. She worked at the Women's Pavilion and devoted herself to caring for her children and her mother. In 1971 Helene married Fred Orlaw and moved to Edmonton. She and Fred enjoyed traveling and gardening. They became real experts at crossword puzzles. She also began teaching the piano again. After Fred's death in 1993, she returned to Winnipeg to be near her daughter Barbara and her family. Helene's faith and service to the church was a major part of her life. Her convictions helped her meet life's challenges with quiet grace and strength of character. As a child, she attended McDermott Baptist Church and the Czech Baptist Church. It was Tabernacle Baptist Church that became her spiritual home where, even in her 90s, she provided piano accompaniment for the services. In churches in both Minneapolis and Edmonton, she also provided piano accompaniment and was involved in the choir. Helene was active in the Winnipeg Senior Choir and was a volunteer musician at several local senior care homes. Eventually, she became a resident of one of those homes, the Fort Gary Care Center, and later the Golden Links Lodge. The staff and administrations at both facilities were outstanding. The family extends its heartfelt thanks to the staff for their wonderful care and compassion. She was loved and will be missed. Please join our family in a celebration of Helene's life on Saturday, October 20, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at Tabernacle Baptist Church, 155 Bannerman Avenue, Winnipeg with Dr. Byron Elsey officiating. Private family interment will take place at Elmwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Helene's name may be made to the CancerCare Manitoba. THOMSON IN THE PARK FUNERAL HOME AND CEMETERY www.thomsoninthepark.com 925-1120 Life stories may be shared with friends and family across the globe at www.mem.com

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 18, 2007