Stella Jessie Smigelski (nee Pietrushka)

  It is with great sadness that the family announces the peaceful passing of Stella Smigelski at the Seven Oaks General Hospital on July 4, 2011.

  Remaining to cherish her memory are her daughters, Shirley Zacharkiw and Mabel and her husband Larry Summers of Courtenay B.C.  Stella was a loving Babu to Kevin (Kendra) Zacharkiw, Estelle (Gerald) Tycholis, Heidi (Chris) Denko of Ottawa and Jody (Conrad) Grayson of Australia.  She was Great-Babu to Kayla, Kyle, Hunter, Skyler, Quinlan, Sophie and Taylor.

  Stella is also survived by her sisters-in-law Josie Skwarok and Anna Skwarek and many nieces, nephews and friends.  She was predeceased by her husband Paul in 1996, her son-in-law Maurice in 2002, her parents Wladyslaw and Jessie Pietrushka and her sisters, Mary, Anne and Jeanne.

  Stella was born on April 29, 1918 in Winnipeg Beach.  She married Paul in 1939 and lived on a farm in the Matlock area most of her life.  She worked as a cook/baker at the air base in Gimli until her retirement in 1983.

  Her greatest joy was her family and the many special celebrations with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  We enjoyed many fabulous meals that she so lovingly prepared.  Special favourites included:  cabbage rolls, perogies, sweet and sour ribs, tiny meatballs, Babu buns, doughnuts and her special pies and cakes.  Cookies for the grandkids always.

  Stella was an independent and hard working person who took pride in growing her own vegetables and shared them with her children and friends.  She enjoyed needle work, sewing, crocheting, knitting and gardening of course.  The cross-stitch pictures that she made will always be treasured.

  After moving from the farm to Kiwanis on the Red she quickly made friends and became part of their social activities.  She was a member of the Gordon Howard Senior Centre where she and the ladies made many beautiful quilts.

  The family wishes to extend heartfelt thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff at the Middlechurch Home for their wonderful care, kindness and support that Mom received.  Special thanks to Lorraine Curley who was mom’s constant companion.

  Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday July 7, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. in the Notre Dame Roman Catholic Church in Selkirk.  Rev. Diosdado P. Parrenas will officiate. Interment to follow in St. William’s Cemetery, Winnipeg Beach.

  Pallbearers will be Kevin Zacharkiw, Gerald Tycholis, Larry Summers, Michael Szmigelski, John Kadyniuk and Ron Pawluk.

  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice.

“Peacefully sleeping, resting at last,

her days of pain and trouble are past.

In silence she suffered, in patience she bore

Till God took her to suffer no more.”

Gilbart Funeral Home, Selkirk in care of arrangements.  www.gilbartfuneralhome.com

 Service Information