- Winnipeg Free Press Passages
- All Titles
Search:
Notices are posted by 10 am Monday through Saturday
BERNICE BURKO
Born: Feb 06, 1927
Date of Passing: Jan 28, 2020
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or Memory
BERNICE BURKO
February 6, 1927 - January 28, 2020
She was passionate to help people become self-sufficient, and so the ORT schools (Organization for Rehabilitation through Training) were especially important to her. Annually, she was active in the ORT gift wrapping booths, the ORT auction, and finally the ORT cookbook which she edited and published with her dear friend Clara Cohen and the rest of her Chapter. She loved telling stories about how she and Daddy would drive to Florida with a trunk full of cookbooks, stopping at stores along the way to sell a few more books. They sold thousands and the cookbook ultimately became a national best seller.
She was an accomplished artist. She got started with traditional hand work, like needle work and knitting, and gradually began to explore more formal media including painting, chalk pastels, sculpture, and wood carving. When arthritic hands and failing vision stopped her art, she did not stop creating. Her daughter Susan suggested that she should knit a blanket for a homeless person, as a gift of love. And so the great project started. By her last day, there were completed blankets and squares for almost 50 knitted blankets earmarked for the homeless at the Main Street Project. During her last three days at Riverview, while she was cared for by the gentle staff in the palliative care unit, 3 East, the family brought yarn to wind, and squares to knit, afghans to piece together. The job is not done. It will continue to bring us together into the future. She was always a teacher. She taught us how to bake, how to tell stories and how to love. For her family, Baba B. was the gravitational centre of our lives. We were always pulled back into the warmth of her home, her kisses, the endless stories, and of course, the Winnipeg Jets.
Because Susan dedicated herself to supporting mom, because of the gentle and loving support of her homecare workers, Jennifer, Gemma, Myla, Nirmal, Kathy and Pat, and because April and Lisa, at Doctor Buchel's office and the doctor were always available, she was able to remain in her condo until the end. The family visited and her dear cousin Betty Simon was a regular presence.
With her beloved husband, Chilo she travelled to Hawaii, Europe, Israel and Florida. He was her first boyfriend, her first kiss. She was his caregiver until his death. The last word she said, on the day she died, was "Chilo".
Bernice Burko was predeceased by her husband Chilo, her mother and father, Esther and Sam Rutman, and her siblings, Albert Rutman and Cecile Meyerowitz.
She is survived by her cousins, nieces and nephews, sister-in-law Cookie Rutman, children, Larry Burko (Lori Mills), Joanne McDowall (Robert), Susan Burko (Ian Keenan), Lisa Springman (Mal), grandchildren, Talia, Carly (Chris), Shyla (John), Matt, Avi (Eileen), Maegan, and Rory and her beloved great-grandchildren, Laine, Ben, and Amelia.
Donations may be made to the Main Street Project, or to ORT.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 29, 2020