ELSIE ELIZABETH BARKER (KRUCIAK)

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ELSIE ELIZABETH BARKER (nee KRUCIAK) May 3, 1933 - April 3, 2005 Suddenly and peacefully on April 3, 2005 at the Seven Oaks Hospital my mother Elsie Elizabeth Barker left my side and our earth to be with the Angels. She left behind only one child Carol Anne Barker. She was predeceased by her cherished father Alexander Kruciak (1952), her mother Anne Kruciak, brother Stan and life partner Ivan Innes Brown in 1974. Mom married only once in 1952 to Steven Walter Barker. My father passed over in 1988. Prior to Dad's passing he and Mom had become friends. Mom (Elsie Barker) and Baba (Anne Kruciak) were co-founders of Ann's Perogey Palace in Winnipeg's North End in 1969. The food industry isn't an easy task, so Mom worked very hard in the early years. With a business that has already spanned 36 years Mom knew that it's success was due in part to several very hard working, longtime and loyal employees. They know who they were and are. I thank you very sincerely. Mom was born, raised and lived in North Winnipeg. She attended Aberdeen, King Edward and Isaac Newton Schools. She loved academics and sports. Hence Elsie Kruciak was Captain of the Baseball and Volleyball teams and class President. Rumour has it that Dad was Vice-President. Maybe that's how rivalry turned into romance. Mom's interests included all types of games of chance. She travelled many times to the Las Vegas casinos as an invited guest. She could complete crossword puzzles in no time at all. Instead of using the dictionary you could call Elsie up for the correct spelling of words. She loved golf, not playing it, but watching it on television. Great music (The Platters) and great movies were two of her passions. The third was talking on the phone for hours and hours. She had so many stories to tell and memories to revisit. She would share these with my Godmother and her childhood and lifelong pal Lorraine Cartman. I would like to extend my appreciation to the staff on 5 U3 at the Seven Oaks Hospital. A very special thank you to nurse Trinity for her wisdom and comforting words. A memorial service to celebrate Mom's life will be held on Wednesday evening, April 13 at 7:00 p.m. at Cropo Funeral Chapel on 1442 Main St. A hot buffet will follow on the second floor.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 10, 2005