LENA (KUTZAK) GRABOWSKI

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Lena (Kutzak) Grabowski.
Lena passed away peacefully, with her husband, Stan, and children, Linda, Deanne, and Julie at her side, on Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at La Verendrye General Hospital in Fort Frances, Ont.
Lena was born at the family homestead in Gardenton, Man. on Aug. 27, 1924. She was the youngest daughter of John and Sophie Kutzak.
She attended Arbakka School until the family moved to Fort Frances in 1935, where she attended Robert Moore School.
At a young age, Lena started to work for her father at his confectionery store, then at Kutzak’s grocery store. She also worked at the Rainbow Motel, which her father had built with the help of her husband, Stan.
She met her future husband, Stan, in Fort Frances and was married on June 11, 1947. Stan and Lena just celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary with family at Riverside Health Care Facilities.
Lena was family-oriented, loved to bake muffins, cake squares, and her special home-made dill pickles. She always had something for the children and grandchildren to take home.
She also loved to tend to her vegetable garden and her lovely flowers in the back yard.
She was a member of the Lesia Ukrainka Branch of Fort Frances for more than 25 years, and a member of St. George’s Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church for more than 60 years.
Many happy hours were spent fishing with Stan, family, and friends. Never one to sit still, Lena was involved in hobbies, making craft items to sell at the farmers’ market around the area.
Lena is survived and sadly missed by her loving husband, Stan, and her 3 daughters, Linda Kirk (Ray) of Morden, Man.. Deanne Nephin (Ken) of Dryden, Ont., and Julie McGowan (Brent) of Thunder Bay, Ont.; grandchildren, Brad Kirk (Nancy) of Ste. Anne, Man. Scott Kirk (Arla) of Brandon, Man., Sherry Stepaniuk (Glenn) of Winnipeg, Man., Jason Nephin (Krista Bullock) of Vancouver, B.C., Kevin Nephin (Denae Sveinson) and Patrick Nephin, all of Red Deer, Alta., and Bryan McGowan, Brenden McGowan, and Jason McGowan (Lesley Harding), all of Thunder Bay, Ont.; and great-grandchildren, Raygan, Owen, Shay, Eiryn, Jared, Zachary, Chloe, Gwendolyn, Rowena, and Ella.
Lena was predeceased by her parents, John and Sophia Kutzak; sisters, Mary O’Donnell and Doris Burda; nephew, Patrick Burda; and Julie’s in-laws, Lloyd and Eilleene McGowan.
A celebration of Lena’s life will be held Friday, June 17, 2011 at 11 a.m. at Green Funeral Home in Fort Frances, with Rev. Fr. Gene Maximiuk officiating.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to service, commencing at 10 a.m. Interment at Riverview Cemetery in Fort Frances will follow service.
The pallbearers will be her grandchildren, Brad Kirk, Scott Kirk, Sherry Stepaniuk, Jason Nephin, Kevin Nephin, Patrick Nephin, Bryan McGowan, and Brenden McGowan.
The honourary pallbearers will be her entire family.
If desired, in memoriam donations may be made to St. George’s Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church, the Canadian Cancer Society, or the Heart and Stroke Foundation c/o Green Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M8.
Online condolences may be offered at www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com