NATHALIE (BILLIE) STECENKO (OSADCHUK)

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NATHALIE (BILLIE) STECENKO (nee OSADCHUK) September 2, 1921 - September 3, 2017 Billie was one of nine children born to a farm family in Manitoba's Swan River Valley. Although she got good grades and enjoyed school, when Billie was in grade 8, her parents decided she should stay home to do chores and care for younger siblings. We suspect that she accepted this as she did all things - by adopting a positive attitude and making the most of it. After working in a munitions factory in Toronto during the Second World War, Billie returned to Winnipeg where her beau, Pete Stecenko, was waiting for her. They married, had two children (Richard and Arlene), and loved each other to the end. Being a housewife and mother were not enough for Billie so she took a job working in an office. She and Pete would work different shifts so there was always someone home with Richard and Arlene. After Pete died in 1981, Billie opened a day care. Lucky parents dropped their children off at her house in the morning and often took baking or dinner home with them in the evening. When looking after children became too much, Billie joined seniors' groups, became part of a quilting club, and volunteered as a friendly visitor with Age and Opportunity. After Billie's sight started to go, she gave up her car, sold her house, and moved to the Courts of St. James where she made new friends. In time she moved to assisted living at the St. James Kiwanis Village and then after a stroke, to the Convalescent Home where she was well cared for. Despite being blind for many years and confined to a wheelchair for the past two, Billie never lost the strong will and positive attitude that defined her.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 23, 2017