ELEANORE PORBANIC (OKRUSKO)

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ELEANORE PORBANIC (OKRUSKO) December 5, 1925 - October 5, 2011 Eleanore Porbanic (Okrusko) our Beloved Mother, Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother passed away peacefully in the company of her family on October 5, 2011, in Carlsbad, CA. She is survived by her three children Elaine Salmon (husband Terry), Wendy Hartman (husband Jim), and John Porbanic (wife Kim), along with her seven grandchildren Casey Bonomi (husband Tim), Robin Hart (husband Will), Kelly Hartman, Megan Hartman, Spencer Salmon, Mackenzie Porbanic, and Sean Porbanic, and her two great-grandchildren Molly Hart and Thomas Hart. She is preceded by her husband of 58 years Walter Porbanic, who passed away on May 5, 2006. She is also preceded by her brother Michael Okrusko, sister Anne Salki, and brothers Andrew Okrusko, Peter Okrusko, and Norman Okrusko. Her younger brother William Okrusko currently lives in Canada. Eleanore was born and raised in Winnipeg, MB, Canada. She married her husband Walter and had her first two children, Elaine and Wendy, in Winnipeg. In 1959, they moved to California and settled in Covina, where she lived for 48 years, and had her son John. She later moved to the San Diego area with Walter and lived there until the time of her passing. Our Mom loved life. She loved her family of origin and spoke of them often. She loved her own family, her three children, seven grand-children, and two great-grandchildren. When her children were young she volunteered for their Brownie and Cub Scout troops, in their classrooms, and in the community. She was a preschool teacher for the Charter Oak School District and taught for many years. She often talked of her young mothers in the program and all the children she worked with. In latter years she was an avid acrylic painter and painted for many years winning various awards. She was a lifelong learner and loved the Senior Centers and her painting, computer, and language classes. She and her husband Walter took many trips travelling to Canada, Australia, Hawaii. Our Mom was always ready to go for a ride in the car or a trip to the mall. She and her husband Walter often enjoyed the time they spent in their Arrowhead cabin. Our Mom loved feeding the squirrels and watching the birds. Arrowhead was the center of many a family or friends gathering. We remember our Mom for always having a pot of soup on the stove or a meal ready for anyone coming over to visit or someone dropping by. She loved helping people and rescuing animals. We continue to find comfort in the many afghans she knitted for us over the years and get immeasurable joy watching her great-grandchildren play with the dolls and doll clothes she made for us when we were children. Our Mom will always be remembered for the smile on her face, the twinkle in her eye, a friendly hello to everyone, and a love you. A celebration of her life will be held on January 16, 2012, at 11:00 AM, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, located at 344 E. Workman Street, Covina, California 91723 (626) 332-3570. Our Mom loved all people, children in particular. In lieu of flowers, donations to your community school or preschool: Head Start http://www.nhsa.org/ WIC-Women,Infant, Child http://www.cdph.ca.gov UNICEF http://www.unicefusa.org/ or the charity of your choice would honour our dear Mother's caring life. Our beloved mother was truly a living angel. She was always filled with such love for everyone and loved making people happy. Her legacy continues through her children and grandchildren.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 07, 2012