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MARY ELLEN KORLAK
Born: May 18, 1926
Date of Passing: Mar 10, 2018
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryMARY ELLEN KORLAK May 18, 1926 - March 10, 2018 With deep sorrow, we mourn the passing of Mary Ellen Korlak. Mary, daughter of David and Sarah Drew, was born in Keewatin, Ontario. At the age of six she moved, along with her family, to the Whitemouth farm where she lived as daughter, worker, wife and widow for 76 years, until moving into town to the Whitemouth Personal Care Home in 2009. Mary met Robert Alexander Korlak, the new hired hand on the farm, when he was driving a truck along the highway and passed her as she was riding her bicycle. He stopped, asked her if she wanted a ride, took one look at her beautiful red hair and freckles and it was love at first sight. Mary Drew married Robert Korlak on July 8, 1950 at Knox United Church in Winnipeg, witnessed by her life-long friend Janet Jenken and husband Ken. The ceremony was followed by a quick photo and supper, but it was July, so before too long they went back to the farm to bale the hay, providing the young couple with their lifelong joke: that their honeymoon was all about "making hay". Mary was an excellent partner for Robert on the farm. She was a talented and strong hay wagon stacker, receiving every single bale he passed up to her without delay. Together they cared for their children, their animals and their crops. Mary supplemented the family income with a job for the provincial government measuring water levels in the Whitemouth River under the silver bridge. Mary and Robert built and maintained a beautiful farm for their five children: Karen (Rene Foubert), Grace (Barry Williamson), Margaret, Heather (John Ehinger) and Kelvin (Kim Border), as well as their 10 grandchildren: Heather (Garry McBurney), Justin, Suzanne (Ryan Dyck), Matthew (Sweet Sawbo), Lauren, Emily, Andrew, Sarah (Tyler Scora), Madeleine and Dustin (Jenna Yaremchuk). Mary will also be missed by her six great-grandchildren: River, Rayne, Olivia, Dercontee, Adeline and Lennyn. Mary's life was a potpourri of prairie activity, lessons learned from her parents and passed on to her own children. Her home was filled with the tastes and smells of homemade everything: bread, cinnamon buns, donuts, cookies, pies, beets, dill pickles, jams, plus, of course, the cabbage rolls and perogies made for and sauerkraut made with Robert to carry forward his Ukrainian heritage. Mary was proud of her children, grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. Her grandchildren recall many activities with her including before and after school routines, holidays when the family gathered at the farm, and her love and support of everything to do with Ross United Church and the Whitemouth 4-H club. Our family is thankful for the care and love she received at the Whitemouth Personal Care Home. Her many years there were filled with a sense of purpose and community, not to mention the peeling of potatoes, card games and her daily success with the Winnipeg Free Press Jumble puzzle - solved while watching the CTV news and talking with the other residents, workers and visitors. Friends, family and community members are invited to join us in a celebration of her life, to be held on Saturday, May 19 at the Whitemouth Community Hall at 11:00 a.m. Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be sent to the IERHA Whitemouth Recreation Department, Box 160, Whitemouth, Manitoba R0E 2G0.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 17, 2018
Condolences & Memories (5 entries)
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Hi...we just heard of Mary's passing and are so sorry. This is Sally's daughter and I will tell her tomorrow...she will be very sad. She loved Mary and always enjoyed stopping at the farm to visit. Us kids have wonderful memories of playing back then and these kinds of experiences helped us understand what it meant to be "family." Our thoughts, condolences, and hugs at this time. Sally, Sue, Dave and Hunter - Posted by: Sally Jackman and family (Family ) on: Jun 04, 2018
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The Korlak Family: We were so, so saddened to learn of your Mom's passing, coincidentally on the same date as our dad's passing. Such a good friend to our Mom at the Whitemouth Personal Care Home and to us when we visited. Thinking of you all yesterday when you celebrated her Life - and such a caring life it was! "Those we love can never be more than a thought away, For as long as there's a memory, they live in our hearts to stay." Lots of love and hugs, Marlene (Hogue) Oussoren and Faye Hogue Ormsby - Posted by: Marlene Oussoren (friend through the Whitemouth Personal Care Home) on: May 20, 2018
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I loved the well written obituary and celebration of your mother, grandmother and great grandmother's live. She lived a full life and left an amazing legacy for you all. I know this time of grieving will be sad and difficult today, but I hope with the passing of time, you will remember and cherish the life she made for all of you. I loved Mary and her very quiet unassuming ways. She always made me feel so at home, in her home. I want you all to know that I am thinking of you and you are in thoughts and prayers. Earth lost an Angel and Heaven gained one. Take care, and be kind and gentle with each other as you grieve the loss of her on Earth. Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend the celebration of life as I will be away at a fencing tournament on the long weekend. I would have loved to see you all and catch up. - Posted by: April Morton (Friend of the family) on: Mar 19, 2018
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I’m saying a little prayer Thank you God for giving our universe Mary Ellen Korlak, who in turn raised the most Amazing woman I know Heather Korlak I’m so sorry for your loss - Posted by: Kam (Friend 😊) on: Mar 18, 2018
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A lovely written testement of your mom’s journey through life......I love the “little red head with freckles on her bike”...... what a lovely visual of your parents first encounter 💞💝 ..... to “making hay”...... a wonderful lifelong journey of trials and tribulations.....sprinkled with legacy your mom (and dad) leave for all of you..... you were so blessed with a mama like her! May your heart heal in time as her soul is free and with you every where you go... she is never far -if you listen and observe...our sympathies to you all at this time of loss. Hugs & Love ....Sue, Colin, Erin and Kate Tribula ...#believeinangels ...you mom got her wings...) xo - Posted by: Sue Tribula (Heather’s friend & colleague ) on: Mar 17, 2018