Stella Hancharek

Stella Hancharek (nee Powroznik)

In the early morning hours of May 15, 2018, after a lengthy struggle with Dementia,
Mrs. Stella Hancharek, aged 83 departed this world peacefully, with her children
at her bedside at Gimli Betel Home.

Stella leaves to mourn her children Mark (Eileen), James (Melissa), Lisa, grandchildren
Amber (Randy) Semenek and Mitchell, great grandchildren Nataliya and Maxym and
siblings Jean Oakes, Ed (Audrey) Powroznik and Margie Tymofichuk and numerous
nieces and nephews. She has now reunited with her beloved
husband Anthony, parents Mary and Andrew Powroznik and her brother
Sam.

Stella began her life April 7, 1935 in Meleb, Manitoba.  She was the middle child of
Andrew and Mary Powroznik.  She was born and raised on the family farm and
attended Park School.  At age 15, she got her first job waitressing at the
Falcon Cafe in Gimli where she met the love of her life Anthony.  After moving
to Winnipeg at 16, she found employment as a sewing machine operator at local
garment factories.  Tony and Stella married in September of 1955 and resided in
Winnipeg where they raised three children Mark, Jim and Lisa.  In 1974 they
purchased the ESSO garage and moved the family to Gimli.  In 1976, they opened,
M&J Auto Parts naming the family business after their two sons.  After
Tony’s passing in 1987, she continued to work alongside her sons until she
retired in 2014 due to her illness.

A quiet and modest lady with a good sense of humour, Stella was also the kindest,
sweetest and most selfless person you could ever know.  If you came through her
door the first thing she would ask, “What can I give you?”  She always put the
needs of others before her own.  She took pride in her home and family.  She was
a hard worker, an amazing homemaker and a talented seamstress, she could make
anything from clothing, costumes, to quilts.  Her family looked forward to
gathering around her table for her mouth watering meals and baked goods most
especially her perogies and apple pies.  She enjoyed playing cards with friends,
watching her “movie” The Young and The Restless, and listening to Celine Dion or
Andrea Botticelli.

She was a loving and attentive mother and grandmother, proud of her children and and
grandchildren whom she adored. She was a pillar of strength and she was our best
friend.

She has left us with a huge void in our hearts and will be sadly missed.

Cremation has taken place. Celebration of life and interment will be planned for August.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to the staff at Johnson Memorial and
The Betel Home in Gimli for the care and comfort they provided for Stella over
the past 3 years.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of
Manitoba.

Condolences, pictures and videos may be left on her tribute wall at www.gilbartfuneralhome.com

Gilbart Funeral Home, Gimli in care of arrangements.

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