INGRIED HELENA GUSHALAK

It is with great sadness that the family of Ingried Helena Gushulak announces her passing on May 19th, 2012, with her family at her side at the age of 77.
Ingried was born on April 30, 1935 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany
to the late Frank and Helene Dombrowski.
In her teens she sang and played the guitar in her church choir.
As a young adult she worked at a drug store, candy factory and modeled for the O’Loreal hair company.
In 1957 Ingried immigrated to Atikokan, Canada with her first husband and daughter. After 2 years she moved to Fort Frances with her
daughter where she would live out her life.
Ingried worked in many fields throughout her life; child care, dress store, Brockie’s Jewellers, waitress, bartender, seamstress and her last job at a specialty doll store. She was an amazing seamstress and spent countless hours making outfi ts for herself, her daughter and many household items all by hand.
On January 29th 1972, she was united in marriage to William (Will) Gushulak. Two years later she would welcome her first grandchild Bridget and three years later a second grandchild, Dwayne. She would go on many trips with her grandchildren including numerous skiing and shopping adventures. Most Sundays were sleep overs filled with baking, crafts, music and darts with Grandpa while waiting for the shortbread to bake.
Ingried was an avid reader who enjoyed biographies and histories, as she was intrigued to know how other people lived. Music was always playing in the house especially during special occasions. Her table was set to perfection and was always worthy of a picture. She loved her home and would spend the next 30 years traveling all over the country hunting for that perfect chair, lamp or table. She had an amazing talent for decorating and her garden was no exception. She spent hours planting fl owers amongst the apple tree, plum trees, rose bushes, fish pond, bird baths and feeders. You would often find her relaxing in her garden house after a successful day of gardening listening to the pond waterfall and trying to get in a few pages of a book before the sun set. It was her little slice of Heaven on Earth.
In 1989, she opened a ladies clothing store (Gabring’s) it was one of her life long dreams. Although it lasted only 10 years, she was grateful for the time and wonderful memories with her daughter and granddaughter buying clothes in Winnipeg.
Next to her grandchildren and great grandson, she was passionate about animals. Over the years she would save many cats, birds and a dog or two. She was once known as the cat lady, a name she was proud of. Even after her stroke she managed to save a few more, they all loved her and would stay by her side till the end. An especially favourite rescue was a baby mourning dove Ingried named Shitzu. She nursed the baby dove back to health and every year looked for its return to the garden.
Ingried will be sadly missed by her husband of 41 years and his family, her daughter Gaby (Rob) Hanzuk of Fort Frances, granddaughter Bridget (Robin) McGinnis of Devlin, grandson Dwayne Hanzuk of Fort Frances, great grandson Joshua McGinnis of Devlin, brother Manfred (Karen) Dombrowski, nephews Frank and Olaf Dombrowski, niece Sabina Dombrowski and many aunts, uncles and cousins from Germany.
A private family gathering will be held this summer. In memoriam donations may be made to The Heart and Stroke Foundation or an organization of your choice.