JOSEPHINE PRYSTUPA (GRABOWSKI)

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JOSEPHINE PRYSTUPA (nee GRABOWSKI) March 10, 1923 August 19, 2009 Peacefully on August 19, 2009 at the Gimli Community Health Centre, our dear mother, sister, aunt, baba and great-baba passed away at the age of 86. Josephine was predeceased by her parents John and Katherina Grabowski, husband Leon Prystupa and sister Ann Shelemy. Left to cherish her memory are her five children Zenon (Kim) Prystupa, Vladimur (Faye) Prystupa, Boniface (Heather) Prystupa, Bernadette (Robert) Turcan, and Veronica (Michael) Yablonski; grandchildren Kyle, Chuck, Trevor and their mother Carrie Prystupa; grandchildren Amanda, Brittany, Adrian, Nicholas, Kevin, Lynsey (Kirk) and great-grandchild Noah; brother Mike (Virginia) Grabowski and their families; sisters-in-law Jean and Stella Prystupa, and numerous nieces and nephews. Josephine was born on the family homestead in Red Rose, Manitoba on March 10, 1923. Spending her childhood years on the farm, Josephine would spend part of her early adulthood working and travelling across Canada. She would eventually move back to Red Rose where she bought her very first piece of land and would later meet her husband Leon Prystupa; marrying him in 1953 and building their first home there. In 1963 they would move their family to Gimli, MB where they would spend the rest of their life. Josephine loved many things in life. She enjoyed planting an array of vegetables in her gardens, making certain that her rows were straight and that there was always enough room in between for her cart to fit. She had a passion for music that was cherished and shared by her entire family. Josephine took great pride in watching her sons play in the bands and listening to her daughter sing. She was a strong willed woman overcoming many medical obstacles in her life. She loved telling stories of her past and made sure that traditions were alive and well kept in her family. Josephine was a kind, considerate woman with a quiet, gentle tone. She never complained and was always known as the sweetest woman around. Her greatest joy in life was watching her family grow from her own children, to her grandchildren, to her great-grandchild. Josephine will never be forgotten and she will be greatly missed. We love you Mom/Baba! Do not mourn for me, I have not left you. Look into the eyes of my family And you will find me there. Vichnaya Pam'Yat Prayers will be said on Sunday, August 23, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church, Gimli. Funeral Services will be held on Monday, August 24 at 11:00 a.m. in the Sunny Valley Hall in Red Rose, MB with Fr. Harry Chuckry officiating. Interment will follow in the Red Rose Community Cemetery. The family would like to express their deepest thanks to the staff at Gimli Betel Home for the excellent care mom received during the last four and a half years. You became our extended family and Mom's home. Thank you to Dr. Chapnick, Dr. Aljafari and the nurses at Gimli Community Health Centre. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Betel Home Recreation Department, Box 10, Gimli, MB R0C 1B0 or CancerCare Manitoba. Gilbart Funeral Home, Gimli in care of arrangements.

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 22, 2009