MARY LACHO, R.N. (SAWKA)

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MARY LACHO, R.N. (nee SAWKA) Mary Lacho passed away at Seven Oaks Hospital on Saturday, February 28, 2004, with her family by her side. Mary was born in North Winnipeg on October 9, 1912 to Josephat and Anna (Lemecha) Sawka. She attended St. Nicholas, Margaret Scott and Isaac Newton Schools in Winnipeg, and obtained her High School Diploma and a Nursing Certificate in Teaching and Human Relations from Washington University while working in St. Louis, Missouri. Mary was a dedicated nurse her whole life, proudly graduating at the top of her class as an R.N. in 1938 from St. Josephs Hospital in Winnipeg. Mary received the Dr. W.F. Abbott Award for Obstetrical Nursing, and later the Dr. A.C. Abbott Award for Surgical Nursing in recognition of her excellence in these fields of medicine. Her nursing career led to a move to St. Louis, Missouri during the war years, where she became a Head Nurse. Mary returned after the war to teach Nursing at St. Josephs Hospital. She went on to serve patients at the Deer Lodge and Winnipeg General Hospitals, married, raised her family, and eventually retired from the Health Sciences Centre. Mary was a member of St. Nicholas Parish, and a past member of the church choir. She enjoyed her family, friends, cooking, sewing, music, gardening, travel, warm vacations, and fishing at the family cottage. Our Mom and Grandma will always be warmly remembered for her wonderful dinners, great baking, generosity, love, wisdom, and devotion to her family. Mary is survived by her husband of 57 years, Sam; and their sons, Gerald (Margaret), and Dennis (Marie Therese). Mary deeply loved, and was especially proud of her grandchildren, Christine, Sandra, Daniel and David. Dear to Mary were her nieces, Eleanor, Brenda, and Karen; and nephew Dennis. She is also survived by her step sisters, Rose and Rae, and by many members of her Lacho, Sawka and Lemecha families. Mary Lacho was predeceased by her infant son Leonard (1948) sister Anastasia (1918) mother Anna (1921) father Josephat (1977) sister Catharine (1992) step brothers and sisters, Peter (1924), Joan (1991), and John (2000) along with many dear and close friends. Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 3 at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, 737 Bannerman Ave., Winnipeg. A Basilian Father will officiate. Interment will follow at Holy Family Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Mary Lacho to the St. Nicholas Church Maintenance Fund, the Canadian Diabetes Association, or to a charity of ones choice. CROPO FUNERAL CHAPEL 586-8044

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 02, 2004