PEARL LISOWICK (TODORUK)

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PEARL LISOWICK (nee TODORUK) October 19, 1927 - January 17, 2015 Pearl Lisowick passed peacefully into the loving arms of God on January 17, 2015 at Betel Home in Selkirk. Pearl was born in 1927 in Framnes, a small farming community near Arborg, Manitoba to parents Peter and Dora Todoruk. Pearl was the third child of six children. Life on the farm was difficult and filled with hard work and many challenges. Pearl was only able to attend school to Grade 3 and spent most of her young life working the fields and taking care of the livestock at home. Despite the hardships of early life on the farm, Pearl frequently shared many fond memories of days working in the fields with her brother Nick, attending local dances with her sisters and later driving the John Deere tractor. Pearl was married young and had three sons: Kenny who died in infancy, Larry and Brian. When the marriage did not work out, Pearl raised the boys on her own living in Arborg, Gimli and finally settling in Winnipeg. Her boys were always the apple of her eye and she shared many fond stories and memories and kept in touch by phone regularly with them after they had moved to Toronto. Pearl lived alone for many years and was a very independent soul but her community was always her family. She taught herself to read and was always ready to lend a helping hand to others. Animals were always one of the most important parts of Pearl's life. She called Molly (her dog) and Red and Buffy (her cats) her "kids" and sincerely meant it. Before her health began to fail Pearl used to love walking her dog in the community. They would walk for hours each day and spent many winters retrieving pucks out of the snow for the Winnipeg Sponge Hockey League (they even made her an honorary member). She loved gardening (both vegetables and flowers) with her niece Michelle. One of her favourite pastimes, once she was no longer able to walk long distances, was to sit on her porch talking to neighbours and all who passed by her way. Everyone in her neighbourhood / housing complex knew Pearl and her generosity (often borrowing or giving neighbours money to help them get by)! Pearl was predeceased by her parents Peter and Dora, her sons Kenny, Larry and Brian, sisters Mary, Nellie and Lena, brother Nick and sister-in-law Barb. Words cannot describe the degree to which Pearl will be sadly missed by her niece Michelle and husband Gerry. Pearl taught them so much and enriched their lives forever by allowing them the privilege and honour of caring for her and sharing her love of life and her laughter over the past 10 years. Pearl will also be sadly missed by nephew David, great-niece Bryanne (Jamie), nephew Harrison, as well as neighbours Romeo, Francine, MaryBeth and Verna. The family would like to sincerely THANK the staff at Betel Home in Selkirk for providing excellent care and significantly enriching Pearl's quality of life for her last three months. In lieu of flowers, please hug someone you care about today! Donations to the Humane Society or Heart and Stroke Foundation in Pearl's honour would also be appreciated. Cremation has taken place and a private family service will take place at a later date. Gilbart Funeral Home, Selkirk in care of arrangements. www.gilbartfuneralhome.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 24, 2015