OLGA ALICE (SANDY) SANDULAK

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OLGA ALICE (SANDY) SANDULAK Olga Alice (Sandy) Sandulak died on June 23, 2010 of heart disease at Victoria General Hospital. She was 79. The youngest daughter of Alexander and Yustyna (Lewco) Sandulak, Olga was birthed by her grandmother Lewco just after midnight on June 18, 1931 at Mollard Siding, Section 11-7-2 W, Macdonald Municipality, MB. She is survived by her sister Marie Bausman, brothers Joe (Carol) and Stan (Terry), sisters-in-law Wilma Sandulak and Betty Sandulak, and by numerous nieces and nephews and their offspring. Olga was predeceased by three infant siblings, Marika, Pearl and Cecilia, her brothers Peter, John and William, and sisters Anne Pickell and Doreen Ribordy. For several years, Olga served as dedicated caregiver to her long-time friend and neighbour, Father Olivier Valcourt, who died in March 2008. Possessed of an independent spirit, at age 17, Olga took her first significant job of work as an MTS switchboard operator at Sperling, MB. Two years later, she moved to Winnipeg where she joined the coding and checking department of the Canadian Wheat Board. A keen patriot, in 1956, Olga enlisted with the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service and served as a Wren with HMCS Chippawa and HMCS Discovery. During this latter posting in Vancouver, she was employed by BC Engineering where her precision and fastidiousness won high praise. On March 1, 1958, Olga accepted a pioneering position as Reservation Agent at the newly-opened Winnipeg office of Canadian Pacific Air Lines (YWGRR), a job she would hold for the next 29 years, and during which time she would jet around the world to all those places that took her fancy. Her stylish clothing, Corvair Monza sports car and glamorous lifestyle made a deeply favourable impression on her young nieces and nephews, as did her enthusiastic passion for life and capacity for fun. Upon retirement, Olga took up permanent residence at her cherished Winnipeg Beach cottage, a vacation home purchased in 1971 that she would continue to improve and enlarge over the next two decades. In 2006, her health failing, she returned to Winnipeg. Olga was a Christian woman of profound faith, a loyal and loving family member, and a caring and understanding friend whose generosity of spirit will long be remembered. She was a lavish donor to those causes that claimed her affiliation. Olga also had an abiding interest in history, serving on the executive of the Women's Canadian Club, and donating her unique collection of CP Air memorabilia to the Western Canada Aviation Museum. Grateful for the blessings she enjoyed, Olga always felt privileged to have lived a fabulous life. At Olga's request, a private graveside funeral was held on June 30, 2010. With Father Gerry Ward officiating, and Ms Lynda Trenholm singing her to her rest, Olga's cremated remains were interred beside her beloved parents at Greenwood Cemetery, Carman, MB. Thanks to the staff of Victoria Hospital, and also to Desjardins Funeral Chapel and Miguel Foidart. Donations in Olga's memory may be made to l'Arche, Winnipeg, 118 Regent Ave East, Winnipeg, MB, R2C 0C1, or the Winnipeg Foundation, 1350 - One Lombard Place, Winnipeg, MB R3B 0X3.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 31, 2010