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ALICE NORA KONANTZ (GOWAN) Obituary pic

ALICE NORA KONANTZ (GOWAN)

Born: Dec 15, 1926

Date of Passing: Apr 22, 2020

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ALICE NORA KONANTZ
December 15, 1926 - April 22, 2020

Nora was born to Frank and Julia Gowan on "Isolation Farm", a parcel of the Criddle homestead, near Treesbank, Manitoba. She was the youngest of four - brothers, Jem and Jack; and her sister Joan. Life on a depression era farm bred resilience and self reliance, a pragmatism born of necessity and a wry sense of humour. Attributes which served her well throughout life. Though her education had a humble beginning in a one room school house where winter found the students chipping the ice from their ink wells, knowledge remained a lifelong pursuit. Nora and her sister moved to Winnipeg in the late 1940s with St. Boniface becoming home. Nora worked a variety of jobs, polishing her skill set and acclimatising to life in the city, before finding a career at North American Lumber that lasted over 40 years. It was at North American Lumber that Nora met Bill Konantz whom she married in 1984. Mutual loves of nature lead to a varied life of outdoor pursuits, whether it was tennis, skiing or just a walk around the block with a wire haired terrier in tow. Nora was an avid gardener. She took great pleasure in working with Bill to plan and implement each year's plantings, both in town and at the cottage on Coney Island at Lake of the Woods. The cottage was ever a favourite retreat where so many great memories were created with family and friends. Her appreciation of the outdoors was expressed in her beautiful photographs and also in paint. Works in both mediums reflected the natural world that she took so much joy in. Nora was a lifelong supporter of the arts, deriving great pleasure from theatre, classical music and especially opera. A formidable cribbage and scrabble player, matches were ever lessons in humility for two of her nephews.
Predeceased by her husband Bill; her brothers, Jem and Jack; and her sister Joan; she will be fondly remembered by her sister-in-law Joan Gowan; nephews Robert Gowan (Sarah) and Kevin Gowan (Darcy); Bill's brother Gordon Konantz; Bill's daughters, Patricia Konantz, Martha Konantz and Laura Konantz; cousin Percy Criddle (Margaret); and many more nieces, nephews and cousins.
Her family wishes to thank the staff of Misericordia Place for their compassionate care and especially Comforts of Home whose care and companionship allowed Nora to remain in her home for as long as possible and for providing for her daily needs whilst in care.
There will be no service by request. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Boniface Hospital Foundation and designated for Alzheimers Research in Nora's name.
Condolences may be sent to www.thomsonfuneralchapel.com

Make a donation to St. Boniface Hospital Foundation

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 09, 2020

Condolences & Memories (1 entries)

  • I had the absolute honour of helping dear Nora as one of her home care workers. Nora and I shared many laughs and I loved her dearly. She loved to skunk me in cribbage as well as giggled at my lack of scrabble skills! How many times did I set her up with a triple word involving Q’s and Z’s!!!! That lil stinker! We also loved going miniature golfing just down the road or at the Golf Dome in the cold of winter (she thought that was something else!) We would go for our walks in the morning and afternoon with her beloved dog Holly and Nora was pretty heartbroken when Holly passed. Nora would bug me about my lack of “flower” knowledge as well. One day, on our walk, she pointed to a flower and said “I bet you don’t know what type of flower that is?” I grinned and her and said “YES I DO!!” Then she asked me and I proudly exclaimed “that’s a red one!!” She did giggle and said I was ‘not too smart in the knowing your flowers category!!” Haha I will always treasure my time spent with dear Nora! God Bless you Nora ... you will be in my heart forever. (Joanne) - Posted by: Joanne (Home Care Worker) on: May 09, 2020

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