On September 3, 2017 at home, with family by her side and on her own terms, Mary Osioway completed her life’s journey peacefully, gracefully and in tranquility. Left to cherish her memory are her children Gordon (Wendy), Carl (Debbie), Joyce; 7 Grandchildren, Dawnett (Gerald), Ross(Katharine),Aaron (April), Amanda, Kristopher, Jenell, Tracey (Cad) ; 3 Great Grandchildren, Isaac , Elliot and Hoyt Osioway, brother William Kucharski, Sister Gloria Smerchanski (Robert), sister-in-law Victoria Stasiuk (Andy) and many nieces and nephews. Mary was born in Chatfield, MB, October 1928 and married Frank Osioway, also from the same area in 1946. Frank predeceased Mary in June 2009.
Mom had exceedingly strong work ethics and farmed alongside Frank doing it all; working teams of horses, building haystacks, picking stones, stooking, milking cows, later pitching bales, assisting cows in labor and saving their calves. Besides all this she had a huge garden which she harvested from and canned a delicious variety of food, also wild berries, her Saskatoon fruit with fresh homemade bread was always a winter treat! She also maintained a large yard with beautiful flowers and kept an immaculate home and was a suburb cook! She even homeschooled her boys for a few years before roads were accessible to the school. Mom kept everything running like a well oiled machine...Mom took on a new role as she became older, cherished Grandmother to 7 adoring grandchildren who all benefited from her teachings and wisdom. She also was the most adored babysitter for her sons’ children as their wives went out to work! Mom was always the family mediator...possibly because she had the patience of a Saint! Mom’s firm belief in God supported her throughout her life and in her struggle during the last several months. Mom’s virtues were endless; she was kind, helpful, forgiving, a good listener and had a keen sense of humour we witnessed until the end.
Mom was involved in the Chatfield WI for many years and helped out in any way possible in community events whenever needed in both Chatfield and Poplarfield. She also was a devout Catholic, at first attending St. Demetrius Church near Chatfield and then worshipping at St. Philip Neri Church in Arborg, until her health prevented her from attending regularly. Mom enjoyed a few distant trips with Dad during the years, such as the Bahamas, but mostly enjoyed staying closer to home going to many festivals, fairs and visiting family in MB and Ontario.
After her first bout of cancer Mom and Dad moved to Sunrise Lodge in Arborg. Mom made friends everywhere she went and spent the last 8 years enjoying her friends at the Lodge, spending many summer hours out-front with many of them, watching their flowers grow and solving the world’s problems....or making them even bigger!
The family would like to thank Dr. Donnelly for his wonderful care and humorous anecdotes through the years. Deepest gratitude to all the health care professionals that touched Mom’s life in the last few months, for their tender loving care to her and support of her family.
Gone but never forgotten, Rest in Peace Mom, little mother, elskan, g-ma, gran, great- gran, grandma.
In keeping with Mary’s wishes, cremation has taken place and a private family service will be held. Memorial donations may be made to Arborg and District Ladies Health Auxiliary, Box 301, Arborg, MB R0C 0A0
Those we Love don’t go away, they walk beside us everyday...