LENA PAULS

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

LENA PAULS

June 29, 1939 - April 6, 2024

With loving hearts, we remember our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother (Babbi), and certified force of nature, Lena Pauls (nee Sawatzky).

It’s hard to believe it’s been a year without your spirited opinions, quick wit, and culinary experiments.

Lena was a woman of fierce conviction. She had opinions and wasn’t shy about sharing them. She believed in justice and fairness and that the world could be better. Whether discussing government reform or the latest book she was reading, she could hold court at any table while serving up her baking and laughter in equal measure.

Jebore in Halbstadt, Manitoba, hatt Lena veel mol mit dröamsche Nostaljie von ihre Kjinjheit jeproakt. Ehr oppweagje Natur kummt friej rut, zum Biespiel wann se hemmlich Pedal Pushers von't Eaton's Catalogue bestellt hatt, oba ehr Moeder hatt se daut zwunge, se trüchjeschicken. Se hätt jeschichten vertellt von't olde Schoolhus, von'e Gaul met’n Naam Lena, un von ehr Leewt för ehr Eltern, George un Maria Sawatzky, ehr Bräar Peter, un ehr Schwesta Mary. Se hätt gern besäukje. Se hätt gern jeäte. Un se hätt gärn jelacht!

Se wår de eerste in ihre Familje, die Huus verlooten hätt, üm no School to jeahn, un de erste Fru in ihre Jeemeent, die een Lehrerin wår. Se hätt ehr eigene Student Loan jemakjt, un hätt mit de typjesche Stäak un Jeweidheit ehr eerste Lehrjob in Loon Straits anjenohmen – waut se säje, se hätt do eene Schildkröot as Pet hatt. De Lägnd säjt, se wår eenmol in Grand Forks as Lehrerin anjename, noch während’t Interview, nohdem de Interviewer Präsident Lyndon B. Johnson anruupe, üm ehr jleich en Visa to kriegen.

Lena's garden on Victoria Crescent was her masterpiece—so stunning that Better Homes and Gardens invited her to be featured on the cover. It was more than a yard. It was her sanctuary, her studio, and her symphony of colour. For the 50 years she lived there, she walked the crescent and by the river daily, sang whenever the mood struck, chatted with strangers (and their dogs), and thrived in good conversation.

A bench will soon rest in her honour on the hill at Harris Park where, every winter, she flew down at alarming speeds on a crazy carpet, cheered on by giggling grandchildren. And she laughed all the way.

We picture her now in a heavenly garden, barefoot in the grass, the deer resting nearby—while politely asking them to eat someone else’s flowers. She’s likely rewriting the rules to Uno, too.

If you want to feel close to her, scoop some Breyers Natural Vanilla ice cream, pour just a little milk on top, and settle in. That was her nightly ritual—somehow, it made everything a little sweeter.

Here’s to you, Babbi. We miss you. We love you. And yes—we’re saving you a spoon.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 12, 2025