NORMAN STEPHEN FENIUK

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NORMAN STEPHEN FENIUK On Tuesday afternoon, June 24, 2014, Norman Stephen Feniuk passed away suddenly and unexpectedly of heart failure at the Victoria Hospital, Winnipeg. We, his family, are devastated by this loss as he was dearly loved and life will be emptier without him. He was down to earth and just plain sensible always, had an unlimited generosity, was kind to a fault, and possessed a wonderful sense of wit and humour. We have lost our hero, our rock, and strongest support! He will be greatly missed! Norm's lifestyle was severely compromised due to multiple sclerosis but he was never defined by the many personal difficulties and obstacles he faced for so many years. He managed to live independently without outside assistance and until this month still drove his car to nearby destinations. Norm defined the word courage by how he lived an exemplary life of thoughtfulness towards others. Norm was born to Stephen and Winnie (Osadchuk) Feniuk in Leamington, ON, on December 27, 1943, but grew up on a farm in Sarto, MB. He completed his high school education in Steinbach and then moved to Thompson, MB, in the summer of 1962 to find employment with the INCO mining company. He spent his entire working career with INCO as a highly-valued employee in various supervisory and administrative capacities until early retirement in 1993. Thompson was his home and he would never have left but for his health issues when he needed to be closer to the family in Winnipeg. Norm made many dear friends in Thompson, friends who continue to be his best friends even today. A friend has said that "He was an important neighbour on Centennial Street." He was an athlete who played in numerous hockey, baseball, and curling leagues before his health began to decline. He enjoyed watching the Winnipeg Blue Bomber games and supported the team even though he could not attend their games. He enjoyed fishing at Paint Lake and canoeing and camping along the northern Manitoba river systems with his Thompson buddies. For years he traveled throughout the world several times annually with his then wife and his father-in-law who doted on Norm as a son-in-law. In 1994 Norm became a Winnipeg resident and bonded instantly with all his wonderful Lexington Village neighbours who became the most faithful friends to him. He particularly delighted in sharing his gourmet specialties with his neighbours. Norm was the best brother, brother-in-law, and uncle that we could have ever had. We were the recipients of his best dishes at holiday and birthday celebrations and Helen was the luckiest of us because he would have her over for dinner at least once a week for years. He could never do enough for our sister Gloria and her family of four children. Generous to a fault he ensured that every one of these nieces and nephews completed a university / college education and that they each had their own vehicles to get to their classes. Always interested in our lives he always had time for every one of us and was the most entertaining brother and uncle with a never-ending humour and wit! Visits with Norm were always a special pleasure for each one of us. How we will miss the teasing, the conversations and the laughter! Norm was predeceased by his father in 1981 and mother in 1993. We hope his mother was there to meet him when he passed over because they were intensely close and had the most loving relationship. He adored her and looked after her for months as she battled terminal cancer. He is survived by sisters Helen Feniuk and Gloria Jaques (Chris Jaques), nieces Janette Howard (Stephen) and Cassandra Jaques (Alex Paches), and nephews Blake Jaques (Danny Miller) and Mark Jaques (Dana Tougas), many close cousins and a host of dear friends. The family has been overwhelmed with the number of expressions of sympathy received from caring relatives and friends. These have been greatly appreciated by us. We are also grateful to Norm's condo neighbours, to Sue and Ken Borisenko and to Ann and Bill Harwood who never forgot to visit Norm regularly and frequently. He so counted on these visits as well as those from a favourite cousin, Valerie Feniuk, who brightened many of his days with her own humour reciprocating his. Thank you to our cousin Lorna Evans who effected the family intervention to get Norm to the hospital. Thank you to the Sage Creek Fire Hall paramedics Matt and Jeff who impressed Norm with their professionalism when they attended to him when he was taken to the hospital that fateful Tuesday morning. Lastly we thank the huge medical team from the trauma unit at the Victoria Hospital who desperately tried to save Norm when he took a turn for the worse only a short time after admission to the ER. No flowers please. Instead, donations may be directed to the Multiple Sclerosis Society or the Heart and Stroke Foundation in Norm's memory. A memorial service for Norm will be held on Wednesday, July 2, 2014, at 2:00 p.m., at Glen Lawn Funeral Home, 455 Lagimodiere Blvd., Winnipeg. The service will be conducted by Deacon Leon Twerdun and he will be assisted by cantor Cheryl Lisowski. Private interment of Norm's cremated remains will follow later this summer in the cemetery of his home parish, the St. Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church, at Sarto, MB. Condolences may be sent to hfeniuk@hotmail.com. Family and friends may sign a Book of Condolence at www.glenlawn.ca Glen Lawn Funeral Home 204-982-7550

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 28, 2014