CATHERINE MANDZIE

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CATHERINE MANDZIE Peacefully, in the early morning hours of Monday, March 21, 2005, at this holiest time of the year, Catherine Mandzie aged 98, passed away at Holy Family Personal Care Home. Left to cherish her memory are two daughters, Stephanie and Veronica (Wallace); two granddaughters and their families, Coreen (David) Daniel and Gabrielle; Michelle (Glen) Brody and Adam. Also relatives in Poland and Ukraine. She was predeceased by her husband Dmytro (Mike) on March 18, 1961, her parents, her brother and sister in Poland and a sister in Ukraine. Catherine was born in Poland on October 31, 1906 and at the age of eight, lost both parents during First World War. The young family was left in the care of grandfather. In 1928, an uncle in East Selkirk sponsored her and she arrived in Canada with seventeen dollars in her pocket, no English and was put on a train from Halifax to East Selkirk. In 1930, she married her cousin's brother-in-law and they moved to Selkirk. They were members of Holy Eucharist Ukraine Catholic Parish and took an active part in Church committees and activities. They both sang in the church choir. After her husband passed away, she moved to Winnipeg to be closer to family. Baba's greatest joy was having her granddaughters and their families come to visit. They never left without at least some perogies and treats in hand! They or anyone else who came to visit never left hungry or empty handed. Baba was an amazing cook and baker who made the best paska, perogies and borscht that we all enjoyed immensely. As Mom had no formal education, she worked for market gardeners and as a cleaner in schools, offices, and hospitals and private homes. Hard work was her creed. The words later, slower, or tomorrow were never part of her vocabulary! Mom was an avid gardener and took great pride in her own vegetable garden and flowerbeds, which she tended faithfully well into her 97th year. She not only had a green thumb, but she was green up to her elbows! as her neighbour Sheila once said. Unfortunately, Mom fell and broke her hip and pelvis in August 2003, and after three surgeries it necessitated her going into a personal care home. The family wishes to thank Dr. Babik and the staff at Holy Family Personal Care Home, particularly the staff in St. Mary's Ward for their patience and kindness in taking care of Mom and Baba. Prayers will be held on Wednesday, March 23 at 8:30 p.m. at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main St. Divine Liturgy will be celebrated on Thursday, March 24, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Basil the Great Ukrainian Catholic Church, 202 Harcourt Ave. with Fr. Isidore Dziadyk as celebrant. Interment will follow in Holy Family Cemetery. Baba will be missed and lovingly remembered for her generosity, caring nature and doing things her way! Vichnaya Pamyat. CROPO FUNERAL CHAPEL 586-8044

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 23, 2005