It is with great sadness that the family announces the peaceful passing of Mary Rody on July 4th, 2025, at Donwood Manor.
She is lovingly remembered by her children: Valerie, Vincent (Laureen), and Vaughan (Jodi); her seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Mary is also survived by sisters-in-law Agnes Yasenko and Judy Rody (Strang), brothers-in-law Fred Malchuk and Wray Dayson, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 53 years, Fred Rody, her parents Iradion and Katie Yasenko, her in-laws William and Ruby Rody, her brother Harry Yasenko, her son Vernon Rody, and her son-in-law Mario Bednarski.
Mary was born at home on the family farm on April 2, 1936. She grew up in the Malonton area and attended Zbruch School until Grade 8, after which she moved to Winnipeg and immediately began working.
In 1955, Mary met the love of her life, Fred, when their paths crossed while visiting a mutual friend at a boarding house. They married in 1957 and built a life full of love, hard work, and family.
Over the years, Mom wore many hats, working at grocery stores, Christie’s Biscuits, Rae & Jerry’s, and The Paddock. She also became well known as the neighborhood Tupperware and Avon lady.
While raising their four children in their Greenwood home, our Mom managed a bustling household filled with boarders and ran a separate business providing care for veterans from Deer Lodge. Her ability to juggle so many roles made it clear she had truly mastered the art of multitasking before the word was popular.
Mom had a heart for service and was often the first to volunteer, whether for community events, school activities, or sewing and altering clothes for her children, grandchildren and their barbies.
She was an exceptional cook and baker. Her family will always remember her spicy chocolate cake, apple pies, and signature broken glass torte, which made an appearance at every bridal or baby shower. Her lazy cabbage rolls, homemade perogies, turkey dinners with the best meatballs and gravy, and the crock of fermenting cabbage every fall for sauerkraut were staples that brought everyone together. She was also an avid canner—jarring peaches, pears, pickles, and more. If it could be pickled, you can bet Mom would pickle it. While her kids didn’t exactly share her enthusiasm for headcheese (and often kept their distance), Mom still proudly made it for herself and our Dad to enjoy.
Mom had a passion for collecting. Her collection of souvenir spoons grew over the years, each one a treasured memento from her own travels or gifted by friends and family from theirs. She also developed a love for polar bears, an interest that began when our parents received a polar bear figurine as a gift for their 25th wedding anniversary. That gift sparked a lifelong fascination that deepened after she and Dad were fortunate enough to visit Churchill to see the majestic animals in person. From there, her polar bear collection flourished.
Mom’s legacy lives on through the traditions she passed down, the love she gave so freely, and the countless lives she touched with her generosity and warmth.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff at Donwood Manor for the kindness, compassion, and wonderful care they provided to our Mom during her time there.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Donwood Manor Foundation and/or the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB).
A Funeral Service will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at Green Acres Funeral Home. A public viewing will be held at 1:30 PM. Interment to follow in Green Acres Cemetery.
For those unable to attend in person, a livestream of the service will be available at : https://fweb.tv/189296
Pallbearers: Keith, Collin, Bryson and Owen Rody, Ben Yasenko, and Jeremy de las Alas.
