ANGELA BEDERNJAK

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ANGELA BEDERNJAK

May 31, 1930 – November 11, 2024

On Monday, November 11, 2024, Angela (Mrs. B. as she was affectionately known) passed away. She was predeceased by her husband, Ignac in 2015.

She is survived by me, her loving, caring son Stan.

Angela was born in Crensovci, in the former Yugoslavia, (now Slovenia) and after a brief time in Austria, immigrated to Canada in 1956. Mom and Dad married in 1957.

In 1959, Mom began her journey of raising me. She taught me about values, decency and respect.

Mom was a seamstress for most of her life. After starting at Jacob Fashions on Adelaide, she worked her way up to being a supervisor for Nygard International when they opened their factory on Inkster Boulevard. She worked there for many years until her retirement.

Mom’s passions included gardening, cooking and church. A true believer, she attended mass every Sunday and religious occasions until she was physically unable to do so.

Mom always had something to offer the company. If you were a friend of mine, you became friends with her quickly. Maybe you were offered a nice plate of food or her “special” drink of Captain Morgan’s spiced rum with some Coke for colour. She made a strong drink, a delicious meal or had a story to tell about hardship or hope.

She reminded you how lucky you were to live in Canada. A free country with opportunity and great people.

During my entire life, Mom seldom told me I’d made the wrong decision or gone down the wrong path. She encouraged my desire to be a musician and helped in any way she could. Our road trips always started at my house, and the bands always knew there would be a gigantic bag of assorted sandwiches and vegetables for the trip ahead. Many, many times the food was devoured before we even hit the perimeter. She gave us advice and she always wished us well.

In the fall, after a good harvest she would give vegetables to friends by the basketful. There was always enough to go around twice. Mom was also proud of her flowers, which often filled the house and yard with all sorts and marvelled at the colours and scents. She definitely had a green thumb.

She loved sitting in the backyard on a warm sunny day with a cold beverage and sharing stories with Dad or anyone who was over. Her health started declining in the last five years and Homecare was needed to assist. This year, after a lengthy stay at Seven Oaks Hospital, she transferred to a long-term facility.

Thank you to Marilyn, Alda, Farhat, Antholyn and the caring staff at Poseidon Care Home for making Mom comfortable in her final weeks. Thank you to Mom’s “Bestie” Ivanka Zerdin and her daughter Christina for the frequent visits and making Mom’s days much brighter.

Special thanks to Catherine Edwards for the many rides to go shopping, Church or any errand that kept Mom off the bus or walking.

And a very special thank you to Bert and Amber Weins, my incredible neighbours who guided Mom home many times when she ended up at their doorstep saying she was locked out. Your help was immeasurable.

Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. with viewing prior at 9:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes, 95 MacDonald Avenue. Interment will be in Holy Family Cemetery, 4355 Main Street.

Pallbearers will be Wayne Ferniuk, Rick Ricard, Jernej Anderlic, Ivan Zorko, Terry Glowa and Blair Dodd.

Honorary pallbearers Darren Welch, Chris Czuma and Shawn Robinson.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba.

You are my sunshine

My only sunshine

You make me happy

When skies are grey…

May God bless you and keep you, Mom.

I will miss you always.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 16, 2024, Nov 16, 2024