MARIA ZAJAC

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MARIA ZAJAC 1910 - 2005 Maria Zajac passed away peacefully at Concordia Hospital, surrounded by family, on March 1, 2005 at the age of 94. She is survived by her daughters, Mary Cobb (Douglas), Jean Enns and Helen Waugh, and by her son Allen Zajac (Janice). Maria was predeceased by daughter Catherine (1961), sons-in-law, Harold Enns M.D. (1982) and ex-Sgt. Robert Waugh, RCMP (1999) and by her loving husband of 69 years, Filip Zajac (1999). She was also predeceased by her six sisters, Justina, Teckla, Paranka, Olya, Hanka and Yulia and brother Hrich in Europe. Granny will be dearly missed by her 12 grandchildren, Heather and Murray Cobb, Cay, Lionel and Dr. Greg Enns, Susan Veldkamp, Tracy Waugh-Smith, Rob and Craig Waugh, Joelle, Jamie and Phil Zajac, and by her 11 great-grandchildren, Sophie and Toby Enns, Macallan Enns, Chandler, Mackenzie and Finlay Waugh, Silas and Robbie Waugh, Grace Veldkamp, Chantal Zajac, and Emily Zajac. Maria was born in Berlin-Brody, Poland on December 7, 1910, and married Filip Zajac in February 1930. As a young bride she moved to Canada and as her husband worked for the C.P.R. they raised their children in a number of remote places including Cross Lake, ON, Edison, ON and Darwin, MB. They then moved to Rennie, and Whitemouth before settling in Winnipeg in the late 1950's. Granny was very proud of her family and their accomplishments and was happy to watch her children and grandchildren excel in the fields of medicine, pharmacy, law, social work, education, sports, business and screen writing. It would make her happy to think of her family travelling long distances to be together to celebrate her life. Her life was one filled with love, caring and a lot of hard work. While busy raising five children in various small communities, she still found time to create beautiful flower gardens. These won her many regional CPR awards and her passion for gardening continued throughout her life. Maria had many talents. She was an artist who loved to paint, and would often use her gardens for inspiration. She had the patience and skill to do needle point and would crochet bed throws for everyone. In 1966, Maria made one last trip back to her homeland to visit her sisters and relatives. Throughout her life, she continued to keep in contact with remaining family in Europe. She enjoyed visiting her grandkids and she and Grampa would travel to Los Angeles, Montreal, Dauphin and Regina often. Spending time at her cottage at West Hawk Lake was another favourite pastime and she was happy to see friends and family come and go. She enjoyed going out on the lake both in the Peterborough and later in the ski boat asking only that the grandkids not go to fast! She also liked to take the grandkids blueberry picking and would treat them to wonderful perogies and pie at the end of the day. A funeral service for friends and family of Maria Zajac will be held on Monday, March 7 at 10:00 a.m. at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main St. with Rev. Fr. Alex Harkavyi officiating. Interment will follow in Elmwood Cemetery. Honorary Pallbearers will be Jamie Zajac, Phil Zajac, and Bill Zack. Active Pallbearers will be her son Allen Zajac, and grandsons, Murray Cobb, Dr. Greg Enns, Lionel Enns, Craig Waugh and Rob Waugh. Special thanks to the wonderful homecare staff co-ordinator Timmallee and homecare worker Olga, in particular, who enabled Granny to spend many more years in her home, with her beloved cat Lucky. Thanks to the dedicated staff at the Holy Family Nursing Home where Granny spent her last six months. A special thanks to Bill Zack who faithfully visited her at home and at Holy Family. Thanks are also extended to Dr. L.C. Bartlett who cared for Granny for almost 50 years and more recently to Dr. Babick who cared for Granny at Holy Family. The compassion shown by Dr. Anna Ziomek and Heather in the Emergency Room at Concordia Hospital was greatly appreciated. In lieu of flowers, donations may gratefully be made in Maria's memory to the Holy Family Nursing Home or to the Winnipeg Humane Society. WE WILL ALWAYS MISS YOU REST IN PEACE CROPO FUNERAL CHAPEL 586-8044

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 05, 2005