ALICE

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ALICE " MICKY" NATURKACH (nee Knapman) After a lengthy illness Alice Emily "Micky" Naturkach passed away on Sunday, January 23, 2000. Alice was born in Guildford, England October 28, 1920. She leaves to mourn her husband "Jack" John and his five sisters and their families in Canada. In England her brother Eric and his wife Joan and their two sons, Reg and David. Her sister Grace and one niece Jackie and nephew Mark. When Alice "Micky" was a little girl, she was her dads helper around the house and garden. He started calling her Micky and so did the rest of her family. It became her name from that time on. Alice took a job in dry-cleaning when she was 14 years old to help her dad pay the bills, as she was the oldest of four girls and three boys. Jack and "Micky" met at a dance in June 1944 and they married February 10th, 1945. Jack returned home from England in March 1946 and "Micky" followed in August 1946. "Micky" was a brave girl to come to Canada. She was seasick for six days on the ship and then four days on the train to get to Winnipeg. "Micky" was afraid to meet her mother-in-law as she could not speak Ukrainian and mother could not speak English, but they got along just fine. They both sewed a quilt and helped Dad Naturkach make hay with a pitch fork. She also tried to milk a cow without any success. "Micky" stayed on the farm for two weeks while Jack went to work in Winnipeg. When "Micky" returned to Winnipeg she found a job at a dry cleaners close to their residence and worked there till 1966. After that she remained at home and sewed all her own clothes and for others. She also liked to garden and she baby-sat for the neighbour children. "Micky" was known for her cheerful personality and enjoyed a good laugh with many people. On a hot day in 1985 "Micky" was working in her garden and came down with a bad headache which led to a stroke. She was not the same person from that day on as she started to forget things on the stove and did not want to leave the home. In June, 1986 we went to England for the second time since she left home to visit her brother and two sisters and after that would not travel anymore. In 1994 "Micky" was hospitalized for three months at Victoria Hospital and then for two months at King Edward Hospital. Then she went to Golden Door Geriatric Centre where she lived for five years less three days. Many thanks to the staff at Golden Door for the good care they gave "Micky". May she rest in peace. A Service of Remembrance will be held on Thursday, February 10 at 1:00 p.m. in the Leatherdale Gardiner Funeral Chapel, 1501 Waverley Street. LEATHERDALE GARDINER 1501 Waverley Street 949-4860

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 08, 2000