Obituary of June Stoyko

June Stoyko It is with deep sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Mrs. June Stoyko, at the age of 72 years, surrounded by her loving family at Riverview Health Center on Friday, October 15, 2010. June was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, colleague and friend. June was born on April 24, 1938 in East Selkirk, Manitoba. After serving as her Grade 12 Valedictorian, she moved to Winnipeg to attend teacher's college and began teaching in Winnipeg School Division. She met Ted Stoyko at a volleyball camp in Gimli and they were married on August 12, 1961. Ted immediately recognized her kind and generous heart, her inner and outer beauty, her stylish flair, and high personal standards. They settled on a five acre property near Dugald and spent the next 20 years nurturing bountiful vegetable gardens and fruit trees, planting beautiful flowers and hosting many bonfires and dinners in their lovely home. In 1977 she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Winnipeg while simultaneously working full-time as a teacher, devoted mother and managing a busy household (and was awarded a Board of Regents Proficiency Scholarship, as well). She taught elementary school and special needs children in Transcona-Springfield School Division for 25 years. Near the end of her career, she was awarded the Manitoba Lieutenant Governor's Award for teaching. In 1981, June and Ted built a new home in North Kildonan near Bunn's Creek Park. She continued her interest in horticulture (albeit on a smaller scale) as a member of the East Kildonan Horticulture Club—winning 3rd place for best homegrounds in 1990. An avid reader, her winter evenings were filled with conversation with family and friends (they always left with satisfied appetites), playing with her grandson, needle point pictures, listening to music, collecting plates, developing art displays for various organizations, compiling a cookbook, clogging, modeling, attending the theatre and Winnipeg Jets hockey games, decorating her condo and executing day trades for the men's Biggar Investment Club and her own enjoyment. Summers were spent visiting friends, giving garden tours, bicycling, and enjoying the great outdoors. June realized she was the recipient of many blessings throughout her life and with a grateful heart she bestowed blessings on many others. As a humble leader, she has been involved in numerous service organizations and volunteer committees throughout her life. Most recently, she was a member of the Retired Teachers' Association of Manitoba, served on the executive board of the Retired Women Teachers' Association (Publicity Chair, Advocacy Committee, arranging guest speakers), taught wellness classes/fitness ESL on Selkirk Avenue, served on church committees, prepared/served meals at Siloam Mission, volunteered at the Canadian Cancer Society and Seven Oaks Hospital, and developed a very popular weekly "Readings and Discussion Program" at Middlechurch Personal Care Home. June was curious about people and places, traveling around the world. In recent years she visited her daughter, Lois-Lynn and her family, in Italy, Germany and several U.S. states, helping them set up new households wherever their professions took them. She and Ted loved cruising with their friends and had many adventures in the Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean, the South Pacific (New Zealand, Australia and Tasmania), and South America. She visited ranches in Argentina, viewed penguins near Antarctica, and traversed through the Panama Canal and around the treacherous Cape Horn on the tip of South America. She leaves to cherish her memory her husband, Ted, daughter Dr. Lois-Lynn S. Deuel, son-in-law, Lieutenant Colonel (US Army) George Lawrence Deuel, and grandson, Lance Michael Deuel of Arlington, VA. She will be lovingly remembered by sister Margie (Dr. Fred) Taylor of Vermillion Bay, ON, and sister Pauline (Lloyd) Lefteruk of Winnipeg. We thank the nurses from the Palliative Care Program and the staff of Ward 3E at Riverview Health Center for their excellent and compassionate care. We are especially grateful for the hours that Margie and Pauline (sisters), Bonny (and Don) Hutniak and Beverly Pope (nieces), and friends Paulette Harvey, Ruth Froese and Rev. Diane Guilford spent caring for June during her illness. We sincerely appreciate all of our family and friends for their many visits, support, care packages and meals over the past three months. Flowers are graciously declined. Donations in June's memory may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, 193 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg, MB R3C 2B7 or the charity of your choice. Cremation has already taken place. Please join us at a service to celebrate her life on Monday, October 18, 2010 at 10:30am at St. Stephen's Anglican Church, 220 Helmsdale Avenue, Winnipeg, MB.