ELIZABETH V. STEFANCHUK

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ELIZABETH V. STEFANCHUK

September 19, 1940 - February 28, 2025

If you're reading this, please take comfort in knowing that I've received all the joy and love I could from this life and have moved on to the next stage, dancing with my precious Johnny who passed away three years ago. I can tell you that I was ready and my passing is a prayer answered. It's hard to say goodbye to those I love, but I'm filled with gratitude for having lived a truly beautiful life.

I knew from the time I was six years old, that Johnny was to be my guy. I remember the day that the older girls taught me to wink. I turned around at my desk, locked eyes, and winked at him. From that day, and for all the others through the decades, my winks were only for him.

Over the years, our love grew from the thrill of first dating, to the exciting love of newlyweds, to the deeper love of adults forging a life together, to the unshakeable love that comes with maturity. Through it all, we stood strong together. We loved and we cherished one another in times of sickness and health. While life did toss some storms in our path, mostly, we had fun! After nearly 62 years of marriage, he was still my "hunk" and I was still his "bride".

Together, we worked hard, raised a family, built a business, travelled, enjoyed close bonds with our precious family and extraordinary friends, and ultimately became snowbirds, spending our winters in sunny Las Vegas.

In raising our family, we enjoyed all the activities that young families enjoy... time with our parents (Dan and Anne Ewacha, and William and Katherine Stefanchuk), with my brothers (Jarvis Ewacha and Les Ewacha), and Johnny's sisters (June Jacques, Olga Boswick and Mary Wegner). Along with their spouses and children, we laughed, played, worked and loved.

We had the joy of seeing our children, Billy and Kathy, grow into adults that we are so proud of, and marry wonderful people who we loved dearly. Each went on to give us beautiful and talented granddaughters, who brought joy and completion to our lives. Now grown, Emma teaches and Beth counsels. They are generous and giving young women, focused on helping children be the best they can be. I couldn't be more proud of them.

In the past year, I was overjoyed to see my two granddaughters each find and become engaged to their own special young man, and Kathy, whose Denis passed away far too early, has a kind and loving man with whom to continue her journey. My kids are happy - heart is full!

I feel so blessed for the life we've shared. From laughter-filled dinners and Canasta evenings with dear friends, to travelling far and near, we've been fortunate. Our cruises have taken us around-the-world. We've danced in the Canary Islands, eaten poi in Hawaii, kissed under Venetian bridges and left our footprints on Broadway and at the Sydney Opera House, Eiffel Tower, Taj Mahal and the Pyramids. Pretty remarkable for a couple kids from Tolstoi!

I'm happy to say that, within this full life, I pursued my own interests as well... As a young girl, I learned the mandolin. Later, I played first base as a teenager and loved skating and barn dances! As a young wife I worked alongside Johnny, building our business and, as a young mom, I sewed our childrens' clothes. I overcame blood clots that passed through my heart and lungs, learned to walk again, and went on to embrace entertaining, reading, knitting, and collecting skirts! I loved decorating cakes and I was always singing... I had the joy of being in a choir and, together, we sang for Dale Evans. The only thing I may have liked to pursue, were more opportunities to sing, but I have no regrets.

Love has been expressed and goodbyes have been said in person. I don't wish for people to come together in any kind of service but, if our paths crossed in a way that has you remembering me, feel free to take a quiet moment, say a prayer or share a memory, and smile.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 08, 2025