GLADYS DREWNIAK (VINNIE)

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GLADYS DREWNIAK

Gladys Vinnie Drewniak passed away at the age of 76 in the early hours of June 1, 2019, at Health Sciences Emergency Room surrounded by family and loved ones.
Gladys was born September 28, 1942 in her family's home in Arbakka, Manitoba to Lena and William Gushuliak. She attended Sundown School up to grade 10 and then the University of Winnipeg Collegiate for grades 11 and 12. Gladys obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from the University of Winnipeg graduating in 1963. She married her loving husband Peter on October 31, 1964. They raised their only child Elliott together on a hobby farm in St. Andrews, Manitoba.
Gladys loved helping and worked as a social worker in nursing homes and Children's Aid for five years. Even 40 years after she left, a child she worked with contacted her to thank her for the caring and help she showed. Gladys then moved on to be an instructor at Red River College where she taught Communications for 13 years. During that time, she wrote programs for Secretarial Business Admin, Childcare and Communications.
Gladys' entrepreneurial spirit lead her to run a restaurant and start a mail order business which she ran for nine years selling giftware, flowers and jewellery across Northern Canada.
Gladys looked after her husband Peter for two years while he fought cancer. She was also there for her siblings, Jean, Nick, George and Mary while they struggled with their own battles with cancer.
Gladys loved gardening, playing bridge, volunteering at St. Michael's Church and Riverview. Gladys especially loved animals. People would often drop off strays at her home as they knew they would be cared for. Later in life Gladys tamed a squirrel and a crow in her neighbourhood who would follow her around when she went for her walks. Her son's dog Milo was her absolute favourite and she dog sat on many occasions. Gladys had a lifelong love of reading, going through two to three books a week. She also loved her Ukrainian culture and traditions. Following the passing of her husband Peter, Gladys purchased a trailer in Camp Veselka which she enjoyed for many years.
Gladys had two important rules that guided her life. Never hurt anyone deliberately and it is better to be kind than right.
Gladys was predeceased by her mother Lena and father William; her husband Peter; her brothers, Willie, Nick and George; sisters, Jean and Mary; and her lifelong friend Mildred.
She is survived by her son Elliott, wife Rebecca, and their two children, Jeremy and Madissen; her sister Elsie (Bill), her nieces, Eleanor (Stan), Janet (Terry), Bonnie (Phil), Lori (Jay) and Audrey; nephews, Shane, Kenny (Maureen), Bob (Linda), Wally (Linda), Barry (Carol), Rocky (Susan), Randy (Vicki), and many other great and great-great-nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and friends.
Family would like to express their deepest gratitude to Dr. Dawe and all the caring staff at CancerCare, Monica and the staff at Health Sciences Emergency, Mario Rojas and Gladys' home care team, the volunteers at Wheels of Hope, Signature Cleaning, and all the other fantastic health care providers that gave Gladys such thoughtful and compassionate care. The family would especially like to thank Father Eugene Maximiuk who came to administer last rights to Gladys before she passed. The world will be a different place without Gladys in it. She will be terribly missed.

Memory Eternal.

Funeral service will be held on Friday, June 7 at 2:00 p.m. at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main Street. Interment to follow at Glen Eden Memorial Gardens.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 04, 2019