ELSIE MARIE WAWRYK

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

ELSIE MARIE WAWRYK (nee Parizeau) April 29, 1923 - March 12, 2009 Peacefully, in Winnipeg on Thursday, March 12, 2009, Elsie passed on, at 85 years. She followed her beloved Paul, who passed on January 8, 2009, up to Heaven. Remaining to forever cherish Elsie's memory are her son Wayne, daughter-in-law Debbie; daughter Paula, son-in-law Bob; and daughter Joanne and son-in-law Jim; as well as grandchildren Wayne's Todd, with wife Abi, and Meghan, with fiancé Rob; Paula's Melodie and husband Mike and great-grandchild Maya; and Paula's Natalie, and fiancé Danny, and great-grandchildren Chelsea and Dylan; Joanne's John and Jennifer, and Jim's Rob and wife Jen, Andrew and wife Amanda. Elsie will be lovingly remembered by her sister Agatha and nieces Heather and Sandy (Pembroke), as well as her nieces Sharon and Marsha (of Toronto). Elsie was predeceased by her parents, Joseph and (Rose) Alma, and by sisters Jean, Theresa and Blanche. Elsie Marie was born in Pembroke, Ontario to a French Canadian family whose origins in Canada dated back as far as the early times of the settlement of New France and the Gatineau Valley. During the depression, in her early teens, Elsie moved to the Ottawa area to find work. She eventually found employment with the family of the King's Printer at their Ottawa residence, an experience she enjoyed. Elsie was barely the required age when she enlisted in training for the Canadian Women's Army Corps in Kingston, Ontario. Lance Corporal Elsie trained in Kitchener and Ottawa before being sent overseas to active duty in London, working in the postal and tobacco depot, packing essential soldier packets. Handsome young Corporal Paul Wawryk, who was the Army's driver, showed up with his mail truck daily, bringing the mail from Canada for sorting and taking it back to the London docks to be sent to the front. The rest is history. They dated on their leave days and took extended leave in 1944 to Edinburgh, Scotland. Both were decorated for their devotion to their country and the United Kingdom with the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, the George VI and Defence of Britain Medals. In 1945 they returned to Canada to married civilian life and their family started with Wayne in December of 1945 and Paula a year later. With the exception of time spent in 1949 in Toronto, while Paul re-enlisted and studied at Ryerson, the young family spent their time in Winnipeg until after the 1950 flood. An Army posting to Churchill in the early 1950s, where Joanne was born, was the start of many moves and postings that led the family on an adventure every three years, including: Kingston, Halifax, Germany (Baden 4-Wing), Ontario, Beausejour and Gypsumville, Manitoba and Comox, BC. When Paul retired from a second career on the DEW Line, Elsie and he enjoyed homes from May to October, in Winnipeg Beach to Belair, and wintered in Texas, with visits from family and friends. Elsie loved her children and always encouraged them to do their best. She was their best cheerleader if they needed a pep talk. She especially enjoyed her grandchildren and cherished her time with them. She was enormously proud of her family. She was a fabulous seamstress and her girls got to pick the patterns; she made sure we were beautifully dressed. Elsie loved swimming and, as a young girl, could be regularly found on the Ottawa River near Pembroke, both in and out of the canoe with her friends. On transfers, if there was a lake, she would dare her kids to be the first ones in . She was fit and fun-loving, and led exercise classes for her senior pals in Texas. When Elsie became a resident of Deer Lodge Centre, she was most often seen befriending her fellow residents, or helping others who were not as mobile as her. You would find no friend truer than Elsie. A memorial service for Elsie is planned and details will follow in another brief announcement. Elsie will be with Paul, in the Last Post Columbarium at Brookside Cemetery, and with the angels. Elsie and her family remain eternally grateful to all the staff at Deer Lodge Centre whose loving care of seniors and, in particular, veterans, is so wonderful, especially for those who are challenged by Alzheimer's Disease. The family also thanks and acknowledges all those who kindly made donations to the Deer Lodge Foundation in honour of Paul in January 2009, and in lieu of flowers, donations In honour of Elsie Wawryk may also be made to the Deer Lodge Foundation, 2109 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3J 0L3. I'll be loving you, Always... Not for just an hour Not for just a day Not for just a year But Always

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 14, 2009