Obituary of STELLA TROCHIM

Stella Trochim

(nee Cesar)

May 29, 1931 – July 4, 2026

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, baba, sister, aunt, and friend Stella Trochim on July 4, 2026, peacefully in her sleep, with her children at her side.

Stella is survived by her son, Dennis Trochim, her daughter and son-in law, Debra and Lance Winslow, her beloved grandsons, Jackson (and wife Taylor), Andrew, Thomas, and Sean (and their girlfriends Azura, Alexa, and Eira); siblings Pearlie Gigolyk; Nellie-Ann Tepper, Einar (and Frances) Cesar, and Linda (and Ron) Klim; brothers-in-law Tom Partridge and Anthony Guillemaud,  sister-in-law Reva Trochim, and many nieces and nephews and their families.

She was predeceased by her husband, Peter Trochim, mother and father Pearl and Joseph Cesar; siblings Jennie (Tony) King, Catherine Guillimaud, John (Myrna) Cesar, Joseph (Darlene) Cesar, and Marilyn Patridge; as well as brothers and sisters in-law Olga (Tony) Manitowich, Michael (Nellie) Trochim, Nell (Norman) Apshkrum, William (Stella) Trochim, Joseph (Irene) Trochim, Julia (Don) Lefteruk, Leonard Trochim, and Daniel (Elaine) Trochim.

Stella was born on the family farmstead on St. Peter’s Road outside East Selkirk, and went to Patapun School, a one-room schoolhouse in the Parish of St. Peter's (RM of St. Clements).  In the early 1930s, the school recorded an enrollment of 27 children, as per the Manitoba Historical Society.   By the age of 13, Stella, along with sisters, was helping in the family farm and home.   At age 14, she traveled with her aunt to Calgary for six months to help with the family home and business.   At age 16, she moved to Selkirk to work at Epstein Clothing and Dry Goods Store on Manitoba Avenue in 1947, along with helping Sol (Sam) and Goldie Epstein care for their son.

In her spare time, Stella enjoyed seeing films down the street at the Garry Theatre, and she cherished the memory of traveling with her sister Jenny to the Winnipeg Beach Dance Pavilion in the late 1940s. Although the famous CPR "Moonlight Special" did not stop in Selkirk, there was no stopping those two from that 14,000-sq/ft dance floor to the sounds of popular local Big Bands of the era.   Together they found a way.

She married Peter Trochim in 1952 at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in East Selkirk.  Their first home was on Queen Street and then later on Sinclair Avenue in Selkirk, where Stella enjoyed working in the garden.  She began to work full time at what is now known as the Selkirk Mental Health Centre in the kitchen; she rose quickly to the position of one of the cooks, despite no formal training.   While watching modern day cooking contest shows, Stella would often tell of that time when somehow the dessert for the annual hospital gala was overlooked, and in the days before, someone came to the kitchen and asked, “Who can bake an apple pie?”   A handful volunteered, a contest ensued, Stella won, and from that point forward began a career of feeding people, at that facility until 1967, then later part time at Rose Marie Catering in Selkirk and then Regent Park Banquet Hall in Transcona, until her retirement.   In 1967, Peter and Stella welcomed son Dennis, then daughter Debra in 1969, and that is where she reached her true calling, beloved mother, then grandmother.

The family moved from Selkirk to Transcona in 1977, and when Dennis and Debra became adults, Peter and Stella moved back to Selkirk from 1995 to 2000, enjoying retirement with visiting friends and relatives on many an afternoon drive.   Peter and Stella relocated back to Transcona, eventually to St. Michael’s Villa, for the next chapter of their lives, as doting (and occasionally spoiling) grandparents

When Peter passed in 2012, Stella continued to thrive, enjoying bingo games at the Villa and luncheons with the Friendly Settlers , and as part of the puzzle crew in the main floor lounge, where many residents will remember her fondly – no puzzle too difficult, no piece left unplaced.   Days before her passing, she completed her last puzzle at her bedside.    At 95, she passed peacefully at Grace Hospital, where we are all grateful for their tender care, with special thanks to the wonderful people at Access Transcona for the past decades.

A Celebration of Life luncheon will be held at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1800 Day Street, Transcona, on Friday, July 24, 2026 at 1:00 pm for all family, friends, and neighbours.   It was her specific wish to continue to nourish everyone she loved.