Obituary of Maria DRONIUK

MARIA (MARY) DRONIUK It is with deep sadness that the family of Mary Droniuk announces her passing on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at Seven Oaks Hospital, just one week short of her 85th birthday. Remaining to forever cherish Mary's memory are her daughter Helen (Brian) Gilmour and son Ed. Her grandchildren Kyle (Kristen) Gilmour of San Diego, CA, Jaret (Lisa) Gilmour of Wpg. MB, and Leah (Brad) Humbert of Wpg. MB. Her great- grandsons Ethan, Dylan, Joshua, Elijah and Liam, her great-granddaughters Eden and Avery, and step great-grandson Noah. Mary was predeceased by her beloved husband Michael in 2003, her parents Antonowich and Anna Larykov, brother Yasha and sisters Katya, Nastya and Hroshya. Mary was born in Kursk, Russia on September 28, 1925. She was a survivor of The Great Famine (Holodomor) of 1932-1933 that caused the deaths of millions of Ukrainians, Russians, and other nationalities in USSR. It was during the famine at the age of eight Mary lost her mother and her three sisters. During the Second World War at the age of sixteen until her liberation by the Americans in 1945; she was part of the forced labor group in Germany. She met her husband Michael in an allied camp in Altenstadt, Germany and gave birth to Helen. Michael immigrated to Winnipeg in 1949 and Mary and Helen followed in 1950. Five years later their son Ed was born. They came to Canada with nothing, worked hard and did well. After Michael passed away in 2003, she began to struggle with the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, which progressed steadily until her death. Mary moved into Holy Family Nursing Home in January of 2007 where she was cared for with dignity and compassion. Alzheimer's stole so much of who she was, but it never succeeded in taking away her gentle spirit and beautiful smile. Special thanks to Dr. T. Babick and to all the caregivers on St. Francis who think with their hearts as well as their minds; also the emergency team and staff of the 5th floor, unit 2 at Seven Oaks Hospital. Goodness and kindness is never forgotten. Mary's funeral service will be held on Tuesday, September 28th at 10:30 am at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main Street, with Father Kwiatkowski officiating. Reception to follow and Interment will follow at All Saints Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary's memory may be made to Alzheimer's Society, Heart & Stroke Foundation or Holy Family Home. "Rest in peace gentle Mother and Baba; we love you and we will miss you." VICHNAYA PAM'YAT