MARY SAMEC

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MARY SAMEC April 3, 1927- December 4, 2007 Mary was born in Canora, Saskatchewan to Tekla (Bugera) and Steve Kurulak, the oldest of eight children. She was always a hard worker and earned enough to buy her own piano even though she had to help Granny on the farm and with raising the children. She left the farm at 18 to work at a fish cannery in Prince Rupert, BC where she also became involved in the union. After seeing an ad to train as a tailor, she moved to Winnipeg and worked for Olympic Sportswear where, again, she was active in the union movement. She met William (who predeceased her in 2002) at a dance. She loved his smile and it was love at first sight. They married in 1947 and had four children, Annette, Petra, Agnes (deceased in 1958) and Gregory. Mom attended the National School of Dress Designing in 1953-1954, designed and sewed costumes for productions at the Dominion Theatre and then worked at the CBC costume department until Agnes' illness demanded her time. She returned to dressmaking as a home business and sewed many wedding, bridesmaids and fancy gowns, tailored suits, coats and dresses. In 1975, she designed and made costumes for Emigrate! at the Playhouse Theatre. She was hired by the River East School Division to teach the Bishop Sewing Method in Adult Education classes. In the 80s, she purchased a jack loom and wove many warm scarves and rugs for the family. When her health interfered with her weaving, she returned to sewing for her family and then discovered quilting. She was a talented artist in all she did. Mom loved to play the piano and sing and growing up we were often woken with a song. Mom was always smiling and optimistic in spite of many health problems and hard times. She was and is much loved. For the past seven years, her health continued to decline and she spent many months in St. Boniface Hospital. We want to thank the staff of 4E for the TLC she received over the years. Mary is survived by daughter Annette Lowe (Robert), daughter Petra Samec (Glenn Greenberg) and son Greg Samec; grandchildren, Robyn Lowe (Pierre Desilets), Bre Hamilton (Danny), Aleks Limit, Kalle Limit and great-granddaughter, Kaia Hamilton as well as five of her siblings, many in-laws, nieces and nephews. A celebration of her life will take place on Saturday, December 8, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at the Unitarian Church, 603 Wellington Crescent at Academy. A private interment has taken place. NEIL BARDAL INC. 949-2200 nbardal.mb.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 07, 2007