MARIA MRAVNIK (KROMER)

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MARIA MRAVNIK (nee KROMER) August 3, 1925 - June 11, 2010 Peacefully on June 11, 2010 after a long struggle with cancer Maria passed away at the age of 84. Cherishing memories of her are her children, Mary (Lois), John (Sherrill), Robert (June) and Tony (Janus) as well as her grandsons Aaron, Adam, and Mackenzie. She will also be lovingly remembered by her brother Josef and family, as well as numerous friends. She is predeceased by her husband Jan, her mother Katharina and father Joseph. Maria was born in Apatin, Yugoslavia. Her childhood years were spent on the banks of the Danube River. It was a time she remembered with fondness and she often told colourful stories of her parents and grandparents. At the age of 19, after the Second World War, she found herself in a labour camp in Russia. Despite the hardships endured, she discovered a love of the ballet, the theatre, and the arts in general that would stay with her for the rest of her life. After five years of serving in Russia she stopped briefly in Salzburg, Austria before arriving in Canada in 1951 and marrying Jan that same year. For the early years of their marriage they seemed to be in constant motion moving frequently between Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia. They finally settled on Selkirk, Manitoba as their family home, where she worked at the Mental Health Centre until her retirement at 65. Trained as a seamstress she enjoyed fashion and eventually discovered many other crafts such as macramé, paper tole and needlepoint. In her later years she especially took pleasure in the time she spent with her quilting buddies at the Gordon Howard Centre. Maria was a strong person who had a great love of family and home life. She was expressive, often opinionated, but never boring! Her needs were simple and few. Throughout her life she was someone you could count on to be there for you. There will be a memorial service for Maria at Gilbart Funeral Home in Selkirk on June 19 at 1:00 p.m. followed by a luncheon at the Gordon Howard Centre. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Gordon Howard Centre are welcomed and appreciated. Gilbart Funeral Home, Selkirk in care of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 15, 2010