ELSIE POLANSKI

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ELSIE POLANSKI (née Van De Keere) April 9, 1924- November 1, 2012 On Thursday, November 1, 2012, All Saints' Day, Elsie Polanski passed away from this life and into the hands of our Lord. Elsie was an extremely devoted wife and mother. She knew no bounds when it came to her support and love for her family; she was not only our mother but, our best friend. Her kindness, loving nature and deep belief in God were her greatest attributes, not to mention her underlying sense of humour. She would bring a joyful tear to many an eye and God blessed us with the best. Elsie had been a hard worker all her life, from the time the family immigrated from Doomkerke, 25 km. from Bruges, Belgium and arrived in Canada. They moved to St. Vital where Elsie attended school and assisted the family by pedaling vegetables by horse drawn carriage throughout the St. Vital, Norwood and St. Boniface districts with their pet horse, Nellie. She later worked in retail at the original Zeller's store on Portage Avenue and later went on and met her husband Adolph Polanski. Together they raised four loving daughters and all worked together at the family farm raising mink, sheep, ducks and chickens. Mom loved gardening and we all enjoyed the fruits of her labour. Her greatest hardship in life was losing her daughter Diane and we are confident she is now enjoying their blessed reunion. Elsie is survived by her daughters; Darlene Hoffman, Linda (Michael) Ramsay and grandson, Michael Jr. of Barrie, Ontario and Sharon (Tom) Rossi. She will also be lovingly remembered by her sister, Erma Loeppky of Niverville, Manitoba and her brother, Charlie Van De Keere and her special pet dog Zion. Elsie was predeceased by her husband, Adolph in 2005 and daughter Diane in 1975, as well as, her father Petrus Van De Keere in 1959 and mother Elizabeth in 1975. Brothers, Emile, Julian and Arthur and sisters, Irene and Yvonne. Our family would like to thank our mother's precious homecare workers, Rosemary, Mary-Fe, Beverly, Lucy, Marites, Rizalyn, Peggy, Kelly, Jemy and Corinna who all treated Mom with the utmost kindness and compassion. We would also like to thank our palliative homecare nurses, Olga and Monique who truly acted as guardian angels in her final journey. A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Richard Silverman, and the staff at St. Boniface hospital who supported us and our mother throughout her illness. Mass of the resurrection will be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. in Holy Cross Church, 252 Dubuc Street. Burial will follow in Green Acres Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, if friends and family so desire, donations may be made in memory of Elsie to The Arthritis Society - Manitoba Division, 105-386 Broadway, Winnipeg, MB, R3C 3R6 or Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba, 6 Donald Street, Winnipeg, MB R3L 0K6. Behold I will send my Angel, who shall go before thee, and keep thee in thy journey, and bring thee into the place that I have prepared. Exodus 23:20 The Coutu Family in care of arrangements: E.J. COUTU CO. FUNERAL DIRECTORS 680 Archibald Street 204-253-5086 ejcoutu.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 03, 2012