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HELEN MANNESS (KOSIOR)
Born: Jun 20, 1920
Date of Passing: May 02, 2022
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or Memory
HELEN MANNESS
Helen Julia Manness (nee Kosior) was granted her wish on May 2, 2022, and left this world for a better place. Our mother was a true believer in God, and his son Jesus Christ. With complete fullness of mind she lived to an old age (born June 20, 1920) that defied credibility as she had been challenged with various health issues over many years. Mom passed away at age 101 just weeks before her next birthday.
Helen was born the second of five daughters to Albert and Caroline Kosior, both Polish immigrants taking up farm residence in the Osborne district, south of Winnipeg. There, she took her schooling, was introduced into the church community, was also introduced to the difficult vagaries of life on the farm, meaning low prices, poor crops, and hard physical work in the fields as an adolescent. She marvelled at how large families relied on each other, and drew closer together during these times. In her case she established a lifelong closeness to her sisters. She loved for a life time Agnes (Stanley Pitura), Betty (Lorne Johnson), Wanda (Robert Dryden) and Clara (Carl Pitura), all with great depth and purpose.
She met and was courted by our father, Sidney Alfred Manness. They were a couple who married June 1943 while Dad was in the Forces and Mom worked at Globe Bedding in Winnipeg. They established the farm site at Domain immediately after the end of the war. Mom and Dad raised their family and farmed in this district until 1997 when they moved to St. Vital. Our mother was totally committed to the well-being of our farm. Like many other young married farm women she was devoted to preparing meals for farm helpers, to long hours weeding in a newly established farm yard, garden, and in her case, seed plots. Our mother provided to her children all the guidance she could muster. She drew her guidance from daily devotionals and prayer.
Our mother understood the value of education, music, solid families, and growing in the Faith. She encouraged all of us to find the time and energy to do our best in all of these fields. She worried incessantly about all of us until the day she died. The many years that she and Dad spent wintering in Florida were joyous and free from stress. She was content in her hobbies which included knitting, letter writing, shopping, and working at puzzles of various descriptions. She knitted teddy bears right to the end.
Helen is survived by her husband Sidney, devoted in marriage for almost 79 years. We, her children, celebrate her time on earth, and continue to marvel at her resiliency. We are blessed.
Our mother and father raised three children, Clayton (Cheryl), Maureen (Larry) Hayes and Ronald (Patricia). Mom is also survived by nine grandchildren - Scott (Joanne), Jason (April), Christine (Daryl) Brigg, Alan Manness, Kevin Hayes, Kyle (Lindsey) Hayes, Jocelyn (Tim) Kitchur, Graeme (Adeena), Matthew (Loren), and at this time 19 great-grandchildren.
Mom was the strength of our Family. We will miss her, but realize that her physical body had simply run out of energy, but her soul will live on.
Thank you so much to staff at Lindenwoods Terrace for the care provided these last years. Also to staff at the Health Sciences Centre, Emergency and G6 for the compassion shown during the last hours. Dr. Kevin Coates provided years of genuine care and was a trusted source of information. Thank you.
A celebration of Mom's life will be held at Thompson "In The Park" Funeral Home, on Thursday, May 12 at 10:00 a.m.
Memorial donations may be made to the Manitoba Heart Foundation.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 07, 2022
Condolences & Memories (6 entries)
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We sincerely offer our prayers and condolences to the Manness family. We are forever grateful for the many years spent in Domain and remember Helen's gracious spirit that she generously shared with friends and family. She embodied the strength and faith of a community that will long celebrate her life among us. - Posted by: Sean Carlson on behalf of the Carlson family (Family friends) on: May 11, 2022
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Sincere condolences to Helen’s family. May special memories of her and her long, well lived life warm your hearts, now, and in the days to come. As a niece-in-law, I valued and will always remember the care and thoughtfulness she brought to conversations we had at extended family events. Rest well in peace, Helen❤️. - Posted by: Lorilee Leslie-Cole (Niece-in-law) on: May 08, 2022
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Our deepest sympathies to Uncle Sid who has lost his soul mate. May the Lord turn His face toward Uncle Sid and give him peace. Aunt Helen always had time for a smile, to find out how we were and what we were doing. She was always gracious, caring and loving. And she was polished and always looked great - what a role model to the next generations. Aunt Helen lived her faith. We extend our sympathies to her family who have so many wonderful memories that she will live on forever in their hearts. Love Norm and Judy - Posted by: Norm & Judy Manness (Relative) on: May 08, 2022
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Our deepest Sympathy to ALL of the Family, Helen is now in Heaven with God and with her many friends and family to greet her. Helen has left many grieving family members, but I am sure they all have many wonderful memories, of their time with Helen to help them find healing. May she rest in peace. With Sympathy and Love from Wendy, Rick, Mark and Jenn Manness and Fran Litster - Posted by: Wendy and Rick Manness (Cousins) on: May 07, 2022
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It is with a sadness, yet fondness of heart that I was made aware of Aunt Helen’s passing by cousin Shelley, recently. Living in Kelowna, I don’t often get the chance to visit Winnipeg - especially not in the winter, but I did get the opportunity after my father’s passing to meet with many of our farm family a few years ago. It was incredible how the family arranged a gathering at the local hall with food, beverages and memories of my father. That is what country life is all about - family, community and generosity. At that event, my brother Murray and I decided to pay a visit to Aunt Helen and Uncle Sid at their condo in Winnipeg. They were unable to attend, so we thought we would go to see them. What a fabulous decision that turned out to be. It was heart-warming to see them both, and to fill in all of the blanks of our family history with such succinct and cogent detail that it brought the fading memories of both our parents to life. I will cherish that afternoon for the rest of my days. Be well, all of my farm family…. - Posted by: Keith and Lisa Johnson (Nephew and niece) on: May 07, 2022
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Aunt Helen was always cheerful, helpful and genuinely interested in what was happening with her nephews. If there were challenges in her life we never knew about them - with a warm smile she carried on. She was a constant you could rely on. Whenever Aunt Helen and her sisters got together it was something to behold. All of them would speak at the same time, interjecting across multiple conversations. As a young boy it would make my head spin, and so I sought refuge with the other kids. Now that the sisters are reunited I am sure it's happening again. My brother and I visited Aunt Helen and Uncle Sid about two years ago and it was just like old times. The years didn't seem to wear them down and they were as cheerful as ever. That's the way I shall always remember her, with a warm smile. - Posted by: Murray Johnson (Nephew) on: May 07, 2022