ELOISE LILIAN POPIEL

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ELOISE LILIAN POPIEL The family of Eloise Popiel, aged 86 years are sad to announce the passing of their mother, grandmother, and sister on Saturday, February 16, 2002 at the Fred Douglas Lodge. Eloise is survived by her daughter Heather Brenan of Winnipeg; granddaughter Dana Brenan of London, England; twin sisters, Gertrude Zukowsky of Winnipeg, Jean Eady of Atikokan ON; many nieces and nephews and special friend Debby Kaniuga, who she thought of as a second daughter. She was predeceased by her parents, Antonina and Joseph Maksymchuk; husband Walter; sister Wanda Ash; brothers, Jules Maxim and Ted Smith. Eloise was born July 30, 1915 in Schumacher, ON the eldest of six children. Her mother died when Eloise was 12 years old and three years later when her father Joseph learned he was dying he brought all six children to Manitoba to live at the Parkdale Orphanage in St. Andrews. He died a few months later, assured that his children would be cared for and able to stay together. Eloise attended school in St. Andrews and then went to Success Business College in Winnipeg. At age 17 she moved to Winnipeg and began working at her first and only job at the Peoples Co-operative Creamery on Dufferin Avenue. She was employed there for 60 years, an accomplishment of which she was very proud. Eloise was a long-time member of the Ukrainian Labour Temple on Pritchard Avenue. She spent many enjoyable times there throughout her life. Many of her life long friendships began at the Labour Temple and it was there that she met her husband to be Walter Popiel whom she married in 1939. They had one child Heather. Throughout her life Eloise was always interested in hand-crafts and her talents ranged from sewing, knitting and needlework for which she won many prizes at the Red River Exhibition and other similar venues across Canada. Her greatest love however was doll making. After winning awards for her handmade dolls she spent a number of years teaching Apple Doll Making at the Museum of Man and Nature and the River East School Division. She also demonstrated doll making in Toronto, ON, Brandon, MB and on television. Over the years Eloise put on many doll displays of her growing collection, however her greatest thrill was being contacted by Mayor Stephen Juba to make and display costumed dolls representing the participating countries attending Winnipegs first Pan Am Games. For the past 10 months Eloise had been a resident of the Fred Douglas Lodge. Funeral will take place at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main St., on Thursday, February 21 at 1:30 p.m. Interment will be at a later date. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Winnipeg Humane Society or the Fred Douglas Lodge. CROPO FUNERAL CHAPEL 586-8044

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 19, 2002