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MARY WIWCHARYK
Born: Aug 25, 1933
Date of Passing: Apr 08, 2026
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryMARY WIWCHARYK
Mary Wiwcharyk (nee Tysoski) will be remembered first and foremost for her unwavering love of family, her deep sense of community, and the warmth she shared so freely with all who knew her. She was our North Star, ever constant and eternally bright.
She leaves to grieve her sister and brothers - Helen, Russell (Olga), and Dennis (Doreen); her children – Patricia (David), Dennis (Brenda), Debbie (Robert); her grandchildren – Denise (Mary Anne), Kevin (Zhinous), Craig (Lisa), Jeremy (Annie), Jorden (Marina), Riley (Kate); her great-grandchildren – Keon (Kaelyn), Kelden, Brady, Henry, Charley, Osten, Brooks, Eylish; and, her dear friend – Granny. Mary was predeceased by her loving husband, Peter; her parents – Nellie and Kazmir; her sister – Janet; her son-in-law – David; and her dearest Gido and Baba Trach.
A devoted mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, Mary’s greatest joy in life was her family. With her beloved husband Peter by her side, she built a life rooted in hard work, love, and togetherness on their family farm in Zhoda, Manitoba. There, they raised not just one generation, but two—creating a place where the door was always open and everyone was welcome. It was in the marginal woodlands of southeastern Manitoba, that Mary and Peter raised Pat, Dennis and Debbie – the absolute apples of their eyes. In her lifetime, she fostered and cared for the most vulnerable amongst us – never wavering and always loving… nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbours, strangers, animals (domestic and wild), flora and fauna.
Zhoda was Mary’s home. It was here, on the dirt roads and among the barley and hay fields, that she walked with pride, purpose, joy, resolve, grit, and determination. This was her community— a place where she gave the very best of herself to so many. The community hall, the church, and the cemetery were cherished spaces in her life: where people gathered to eat, pray, dance, and remember.
The farm was more than a home; it was a gathering place. It was where people came together to work, to laugh, to share meals, and to celebrate life’s simple pleasures. Around Mary’s table, there was always room for one more, and no one ever left hungry. Mary lived a life of tireless energy and care. From sunrise to sunset, she was always in motion—cooking, cleaning, gardening, picking berries, painting fence posts, milking cows, raking leaves in the autumn, shoveling snow in the winter, and tending to chickens, pigs, cats, dogs, and sheep. Her days were full, often ending only after the last crisp white tea towel was ironed and neatly put away. In all four seasons, Mary Wiwcharyk created memories—through holidays, traditions, and the simple, meaningful rhythms of everyday life.
She created a lifetime of memories through the work of her hands and the love in her heart: carding wool, canning preserves, making perogies and cabbage rolls, crafting ceramics, embroidering, writing Christmas Cards, baking cakes and pies. In her later years, she found joy in quilting alongside dear friends, stitching together not just fabric, but stories and companionship.
Mary loved fiercely and with unwavering loyalty. She was a proud and passionate sports fan, cheering on her favourite teams. She spent countless hours in hockey arenas, enthusiastically supporting her grandsons, great grandsons, and their teammates. Nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, all have memories of – picking raspberries, peas and beans; shucking corn on the cob; chasing cows from one field to the next; stacking hay bales; playing cards, baking pies, and the list goes on. In her long arc, so many people were by her side sharing in her joy, her memories, and her milestones – from the family friends and neighbours in Zhoda to the companions in her ‘lake view’ pod.
Mary’s legacy lives on in the generations she nurtured, the traditions she passed down, and the community she helped build. Her home was a place of comfort, her hands were always busy in service of others, and her heart was forever open. As her body failed her and her mind wandered, the family wants to thank the doctors, nurses, resident assistants, and housekeepers at Rest Haven Care Home. And the family wishes to sincerely express our deepest gratitude for the friends and caregivers who sat with Mary, in kindness and in hope. Mary was a woman of faith, and she believed in the enduring power of song and prayer.
She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her. Mary - thank you for walking on this earth with all of us. You are, and always will be, the wind beneath our wings.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 11, 2026