JOSEPHINE FERNIUK

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JOSEPHINE FERNIUK

March 12, 1921 - February 15, 2026

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Josephine Ferniuk from this realm to the next. She will be missed very much.

Josie was predeceased by her husband Paul in 1964, daughter Linda in 2023 and son Garry in 2024. She is survived by her sons, Ron (Margaret), who she always referred to as her 'number 1 son', and Wayne (Donna) as a close number 2. She also leaves behind daughter-in-law Leslie (widow of her son Garry), grandchildren, Lisa (Ken Flannagan), Leney (Jim Richardson), Paul (Chelsea Power) and Katie (Scott Davey). Josie also had great-grandchildren, Matthew, Melissa, Colton and Josie, and great-great-grandchild Mason.

Josie lived a very long and very productive life. She died a month short of her 105th birthday and lived independently in her apartment on Henderson Hwy. until she was almost 104. In January of 2025 she developed influenza A and pneumonia, which led to a six week stay in the Grace Hospital. She recovered, and when reminded that the Pope recently died of pneumonia at the age of 88 she said that she must have had pretty darn good healthcare to outlive him.

After her stay at the Grace Hospital she moved into Holy Family Personal Care Home, where the healthcare providers on the St. Francis ward provided absolutely excellent and compassionate care until her passing. Father Bohdan Lukie, a personal friend, was also a regular visitor. His presence and spiritual care were very much appreciated.

Josie was born to farm parents in the Interlake area. While she enjoyed farming, and for a brief while considered it as a career, she moved on to the restaurant business in Selkirk with her husband Paul. After a few years they continued in Winnipeg, owning Lindy’s Grill in St. Boniface. A few years after Paul’s passing in 1964 she operated the Ivanhoe Restaurant and Camelot Lounge downtown on Portage Avenue, before converting it to a Gondola Pizza restaurant.

Around the same time she took courses to get into insurance sales, with Forester’s Insurance where she won a few awards, and sell real estate. Real estate became her passion. She was a very good realtor and won various sales awards. Being a real estate agent also gave her the knowledge and ability to add to her career when she started buying rental properties. She always said rentals were the best possible business to be in, because every rent payment helped to build equity. Yes, she truly had an entrepreneurial spirit.

While in the rental business she also started investing in the stock market, where she managed her own portfolio well into her 90s.

She was a longtime member of St. Joseph's Ukrainian Catholic Church, where she also volunteered regularly at the Bishop Velychkovsky Shrine. She was also a member of the UCWL for 70 years, including a year as president in 1959.

Josie loved her family, travelling, camping, animals, gardening, cooking, Murder She Wrote and Columbo. She thoroughly enjoyed her many years making perogies with the crew at St. Ivan’s Church. She also enjoyed a bit of Malibu Rum or Crown Royal now and then.

Josie had a long, healthy, productive and fulfilling life. She will be fondly remembered and sincerely missed.

Funeral mass will be at St. Joseph's Ukrainian Catholic Church, 250 Jefferson Avenue, on Friday, February 27, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Holy Family Personal Care Home, or another charity of your choice.

Vichnaya Pamyat

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 21, 2026