GLADYS OMINSKI -

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GLADYS OMINSKI 1926 - 2009 With immense sorrow, the family of Gladys Ominski wishes to inform those who knew and loved her of her passing on September 22, 2009. She died peacefully at the central Okanagan Hospice in Kelowna, BC, following a tenacious nine-year battle with lymphoma. Gladys Ominski (nee Stutski) was born on the family homestead at Pleasant Home, Manitoba in 1926, the eighth child in a family of 11. She left school prior to grade nine in order to help out on the family farm, but in her characteristic way of reaching out for new opportunities, she left home at 14 and moved first to Winnipeg as a housekeeper and then to Thunder Bay. Her career here as a waitress eventually took her onto the waters of Lake Superior where she worked aboard the passenger ship, The Neuronic. When she moved back to Winnipeg, Gladys took a job as a seamstress at Rice Sportswear, where her co-worker introduced her to his brother Ted Ominski. In true fashion, Gladys swept Ted off his feet and became his first - and only - girlfriend. They were inseparable from that time on, spending almost every day together until her death. Married in 1951 in Winnipeg, Gladys and Ted lived in the North End for 25 years, raising two daughters - Lois Lynn and Janice Jacqueline. Gladys took time off to care for her daughters, but eventually re-entered the workforce as a babysitter for the family who owned the neighbourhood store. Feeling the need to expand her horizons once again, she began working at the store, then moved on to jobs at Eaton's, Sears and K-Mart. By the time she left the north-end Winnipeg K-Mart to start a new life in Medicine Hat with Ted, she had advanced to checkout supervisor and on to the cash office. It was this latter experience that gave her the expertise to do the books for her and Ted's enterprise, The Medicine Hat Shopper. In Medicine Hat, Alberta, Gladys continued to embrace life by raising dogs, golfing, cross-stitching, crocheting, knitting and creating ceramic works of art. She has left her family a number of beautiful hand-crafted works as a result of her creative efforts. Gladys also loved reading, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles and bowling - and she was a formidable softball player in her younger days. After retiring in 1991, Gladys continued to live life to the fullest. Recently, in pursuit of opportunities for her health, she moved to Kelowna with Ted, but unfortunately was not destined to enjoy the pleasures of the Okanagan for long. Gladys has left behind to remember her and celebrate her life, her lifelong partner Ted; her daughter Janice Snyder and son-in-law Ray; granddaughters, Lindsay Snyder DuChene and Jennifer Snyder; great-granddaughter Annalina DuChene; son-in-law Burgess Bredo; granddaughter Holly Doneff; sister Jean Ominski; and brothers, Dave and Frank Stutski. Aunty Glady's nieces, Val, Pam, Kim Ominski and Bev Montgomery; and nephew Glen Ominski will also miss her dearly. Her eldest daughter, Lois Bredo, preceded her home (2007), as did her parents, Frances and Joseph Stutski; her sisters, Eileen and Olive; and brothers, Ed, Bill, Sam, Tony and Lloyd. Prayers for Gladys were recited at First Memorial Funeral Services, in Kelowna on Monday, September 28, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. A funeral mass followed on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Pius X Catholic Church, Kelowna, BC. A memorial mass will be held at Holy Ghost Church, 341 Selkirk Ave,, Winnipeg, MB on Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Gladys loved flowers, but if preferred, donations can be made to Central Okanagan Hospice Associations' Hospice House, in care of 202-1456 St. Paul St., Kelowna, BC V1Y 2E6. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mem.com. Arrangements entrusted to First Memorial Funeral Services, Kelowna, B.C. (250) 762-2299.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Oct 10, 2009