DAWN HELENE BUKATA

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DAWN HELENE BUKATA Following a long, spirited fight with cancer, Dawn peacefully passed away on November 17, 2011, leaving behind her greatest joy, her daughter Lauren. Dawn was born and grew up in Winnipeg, attending the University of Manitoba and receiving her Bachelor of Education in 1977, and later returning to receive her Resource Special Education Certificate in 1991. It was while teaching at Sandy Bay First Nations that she met her future husband, John, and they were married two years later. They spent five wonderful years in the Yukon together, before moving to Saskatchewan, where their daughter Lauren was born. They then moved to back to Winnipeg to be closer to Dawn's family. It was difficult to find someone more full of joy than Dawn. Generous and kind to a fault, she was impossible not to love, with a dry sense of humour that gave as good as it got. Dawn loved teaching and from 1991, had been a Resource Teacher at Arthur A. Leach School. A talented gardener, nothing thrilled her more than ordering seeds in the fall... except perhaps tending to the resulting plants in the summer. Sewing was another passion and Dawn created everything from quilts to dresses to snugly pjs. Dawn's daughter, Lauren, was the love of her life, and while she missed her when she moved to Toronto to begin her dream job in fashion design, she could not have been more proud, telling anyone who would listen about each new clothing line. Recently Dawn had begun renovating the house she and John had shared for over twenty years, finally finishing the attic renovation that had been their dream since they first moved in. Dawn had not decided whether to stay in Winnipeg or move closer to Lauren, but wanted to be ready for either. Dawn was predeceased by her husband, John; father, Merven Walker; and father-in-law, Bill. She is survived by her mother, Doreen Walker, and her sister Cheryl Walker-Esbaugh and her husband Danny McMurphy and son Cole. She is also survived by her mother-in-law, Lucy; brother-in-law, Mike; his wife, Marsha; and their three sons, Mark, Mitchell and Matthew, and their wives and children. Dawn felt fortunate to have the unwavering support and love of a group of very special friends. Lauren and Cheryl are especially grateful to Dawn's other sisters, friends, Judy Funk, Sandy McLennan and Susan Partridge as well as her good friends, Roy Thiessen and Debbie Travort, who loved and supported her throughout her illness. Dawn was so thankful for the exceptional care that she received from Dr. Moltzen and the nurses at the CancerCare St. Boniface Unit, and Dr. Seftel at the CancerCare MacCharles Unit. The final month of Dawn's life was spent at Riverview Health Centre. None of us will ever forget the kindness and compassion of Doctors Hiebert and Garcia and the nurses of the Palliative Care Unit. For online condolences or to light a memorial candle please log onto www.mosaicfunerals.ca 1839 Inkster Blvd. 275-5555

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 21, 2011