Halynna GEORGISON

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GEORGISON: Halynna (Helene) ‘Lo’ Georgison (née Moniatowicz) November 7, 1914 – October 8, 2011. Apologies in advance, this tribute to our Baba, ‘Lo’ Georgison, will be almost as long as her wonderful life! She lived to see almost a century of change, even after telling anyone who would listen over the last 50 years, that “I’m not long for this world, kid”. She was a wonderful, kind friend, mother, sister and aunt – and to us, she was the best grandmother ever. People were naturally drawn to her - she had a magnetic personality, and made friends wherever she went. And, she was not your typical grandmother – she hated to cook, was a strict atheist, carried a back seat driver’s license, and story-time for us was full of graphic and colourful stories that one wouldn’t typically find in any children’s books. She was an ‘unconscious’ comedian, who could hold court with her wit and wisdom that made everyone laugh “Why make that donkey rich and me poor?”. Baba was born in an immigrant holding centre in Liverpool, England in 1914. That year, her father, Peter Moniatowicz, a Polish-Austrian immigrant, sent her expectant mother, Antonina Moniatowicz (née Koscielska), back home to her family in ‘old country’, as he was unable to find work as a labourer in Brandon to support his burgeoning family. But the ship only made it to Liverpool when Great War broke out - leaving Antonina, stranded there, while she awaited passage back to Canada. She gave birth to her daughter, and they were placed on the SS Virginian, and sent home. When they arrived back in Brandon, Baba’s mother suggested they call their baby Virginia, as a lovely tribute to the ship they sailed on. To which her husband replied “No child of mine is going to be named after a boat!”. So Halynna it was. (Although her teenage nickname, ‘Lo’ stuck, after she was seen on the arm of a boy named ‘Hi’). Soon after Baba, came 4 more children, 2 sisters who died at a young age, then Stan and Alice. The family grew up in the north end of Brandon – the Flats. Home to the poorest of poor immigrants – a mixture of Germans, Poles, Jews, Austrians and Ukrainians, etc. – but to hear Baba tell it, it was the most wonderful place on earth. Baba was a born storyteller, and we grew up on her vivid accounts of life on ‘the Flats’. Tales that held us positively spellbound – told over and over again for forty-plus years, until they became legendary to us kids. Stories of the floods, the poverty, the mysteries, the happy times, and of course the dances at the many local halls. Baba moved to Souris when she was 18, and took a job at the Candlan House general store by the train station. It was there that she met her best friend, Inez Georgison, and Inez’s brother Ted, a mechanic, who was to be her future husband. She and Ted married in March, 1936, and had their son, Teddy on Christmas Day the same year. They spent 10 years in Souris, where Ted worked 3 jobs. After the war, they moved to Brandon, where they set up shop with Inez and her husband, Doke Korkie, in the auto parts business. In the early 50s, Baba and our dad, Teddy, went to Vancouver to stay with her sister Alice while our grampa, Ted, stayed in Brandon to build Wheat City Auto Wrecking and a house for them to live in, on 18th Street. Together with their son, Teddy, they expanded the business to add a car dealership, Georgison Auto Mart, in the mid-60s. They then transformed the property into a hotel, restaurant, bar and beer vendor in 1972. From the time the 3 of us came along in the 60s, Baba and Grampa were omnipresent in our lives. We spent every weekend, every school holiday, and the better part of every summer with them up at Clear Lake. My brothers and I often refer to this time as the golden years. Baba was pre-deceased by her father in 1966, her mother in 1979, her brother Stan in 1980, her son, Teddy in 1988, her husband, Ted in 1993, and her sister Alice in 2002. But, she never complained – she always considered herself lucky and fortunate. She’s gone “Off to happy hunting ground” now, but she’s left us with a rich legacy that will ensure she lives on. A celebration of her life will occur on Saturday May 19, 2012 from 1:00pm – 4:00pm at Kin Village, 1511 Rosser Avenue, Brandon MB, in the coffee room. Tea, coffee and light snacks will be served.

As published in Brandon Sun on May 12, 2012