MARIE ANNA KOMADA (HEBER)

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MARIE ANNA KOMADA (HEBER) Marie died suddenly of a heart attack on Tuesday, April 19, 2005 in her home in Winnipeg. She will be greatly missed by me, her loving husband Casimir (Case). Marie was born on a farm near Speers, SK on April 5, 1938. The family moved to Winnipeg's Point Douglas when she was five, and Marie lived in Winnipeg ever since. As a little girl, Marie was inseparable from brothers, Walter, Luther and Wesley. She told many stories of their escapades while living on the farm. Born one year apart, Marie and her brother Luther became especially close, and have shared a lifelong bond. When she was 15, her sister Alexandra Sharon was born. Marie became Alex's second mother, hero, and confidante, and over the years they developed a special attachment. Marie started work at 17 in Eaton's finance department, where she stayed for 10 years. She then worked at Air Canada for 33 years, mostly in finance. She had special memories of Marion, Phyllis, Nancy, Richard, Ron and others with whom she shared many pleasant experiences. We met on Christmas Eve in 1966 and both recognized later that it had been love at first sight. We finally got together permanently when I moved from Toronto back to Winnipeg in 1971. And we've been a team ever since. Marie did not really have hobbies. In earlier years, she liked to travel with friends or with me. But more recently, she became a homebody, enjoying the occasional family get-together or an outing to a favourite restaurant. But boy, did she love to read! She could pass hours, or even days, wrapped up in a book. She had an eclectic taste in literature, not favouring any particular style or genre. Short stories, novels, classics, biographies, philosophical works, were all part of her collection. This, along with her interest in current affairs, led to countless hours together in deep discussion. These weren't necessarily serious for she also had a tremendous sense of humour. She then became fascinated with cryptic crosswords as a mental exercise, and we seemed to be working on them constantly. Marie had a special relationship to Alex's daughter, Martha. She would do anything for her, and Martha responded in kind. It was a big adjustment for Marie when Alex and Martha moved away from Winnipeg. More recently, one of Marie's greatest joys was finally meeting my sister and her family. It was a treasured experience to get to know five more nieces and nephews and their 11 children. Meanwhile, Marie's mother was growing older and more disabled and Marie ensured she was always looked after. Marie had spent her entire life near her mom and was deeply affected by her death in November 2003. During this time, Marie gradually, and in her own quiet way, assumed the role of family matriarch. Marie was one of the most honest and straightforward people you could meet. She was frank in her opinions, yet she had an uncanny sensitivity and respect for others' feelings. She was quietly but determinedly stoic, never complaining about her personal problems. She respected the privacy of those close to her, and was often the recipient of their greatest confidences. Those left to mourn and remember Marie include her brother Luther and his children, James and Robert of Winnipeg, and Katherine (Carter) of Hazelridge, MB; her brother Wesley and his wife Lourdes of Saskatoon, SK and children, Jacqueline of Vancouver and Walter of Washington, DC; her sister Alexandra Sharon and husband Richard Handfield-Jones and children, Nicholas and William of Ottawa and Martha (Fortier) of Ottawa; her sister-in-law Romualda Mary and husband Chester Dylong of Sutton, QC and children, Deborah, John, Rosanne and Michael of Sutton and Christine of Granby, QC; her sister-in-law Catharine Heber of Lethbridge, AB and children, James and Wayne of Winnipeg and Pamela (Evetts) of Lethbridge; her aunts and uncles, Anne and husband Bill Kohut of Selkirk, MB; Ron Hunt of Darlington, England; Otto and wife Mamie Hundt of Strasbourg, SK; Adele Hundt of Medstead, SK; and numerous grandnieces and nephews. Marie was predeceased by her father Ernest Heinrich (Henry) Heber, her mother Elly Lydia Heber and her brother Walter Heber. According to Marie's wishes, there will be no service. A remembrance gathering of the immediate family has taken place. Those wishing to make a donation may do so to the Canadian Red Cross or to a charity of their choice. For this time it isn't fascination, Or a dream that will fade and fall apart. It's love this time, it's love, my foolish heart! - Ned Washington.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 30, 2005