Mary Gushulak Franko

Mary Franko, age 77 years, passed away peacefully on Monday, September 13, 2010 at the age of 77, at LaVerendrye General Hospital in Fort Frances, Ontario.

She was born on April 7, 1933 in Arbakka, Manitoba, to the late Alicey and Mike Gushulak, Mary lived in Sirko, Manitoba, with her parents, brothers and sisters, later moving to Fort Frances in 1948. Mary was employed at various restaurants throughout her life, working as a waitress and a cook at the White Pine Inn, The Fort Frances Hotel,The Crown Room Restaurant at the Emporer Hotel, The New Lunch Café and the Twin Pines Cafe.

In 1953, Mary was united in marriage to John Franko. She continued working in the restaurant business as a cook/ waitress. In 1955, they had their first baby girl, Rose Marie, a bundle of joy, who sadly passed away suddenly in 1956. Mary was well known for her baking of home-made pies and for her art of cooking in general. She was a fabulous cook!

Their second child, Susan, was born in 1957 and in 1963, their third daughter Janice. In 1974, John and Mary purchased Subway Grocery Store now known as Franko’s Subway Grocery.

When John passed away in 1984, Mary continued to operate the store on her own with a bit of part time help, especially during the peak season of the famous Kolbasa, which was orderd in for Easter and Christmas. She particularily enjoyed these times of year with the customers who flocked in for this special event. She also enjoyed the frequent visits of the children from the Day Care Centre, especially the July 1st parade visit from them all.

Mary always enjoyed the festive seasons and it showed in her art of cooking Ukrainian foods such as cabbage rolls and peroghy. She made certain to carry on the Ukrainian tradition of Ukrainian Christmas Eve, preparing the 12 meatless dishes, making sure her family and friends had left-overs to take home with them. She continued operating the store until June 30 of this year and it was only then that she was forced to cease working due to her illness.

Mary was greatly admired by many. She was an avid gardener, baker, and cook. When you entered her store you could be sure she was cooking something good by the aroma that met you at the door. Mary will be dearly missed by her family and friends.

She is survived by her children, Susan and husband Dan Fox, and Janice and husband Bruce Johnson and her very special granddaughter, Lindsay Johnson, her pride and joy- her sunshine!

Mary is also survived by one sister, Iris and husband Ted Gogosha ; four brothers, William (Bill) Gushulak, Orest Gushulak and wife Karen , Dennis Gushulak and wife Donna , and Gary Gushulak and wife Kim, and sisters-in-law Alice

( Paul Wepruk), and Dee-Dee ( George Gush) and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband, John Franko in 1984; one daughter in infancy, Rose Marie her parents Mike and Alicey, sister Lillian McTeague, and two brothers, George (Gush) Gushulak and Walter Gushulak and sister-in-law Shirley Gushulak.

Mary will be missed by her family and friends, her cat Sam, Special ‘Sister’ Joan Mudge, neighbor, Mary Waghorn and Lynn Bruyere who all shared a special part of Mom’s life.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 18, 2010 at 9:30 a.m. at the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church in Fort Frances, Ontario. Father Gene Maximiuk will officiate with interment in Riverview Cemetery in Fort Frances, Ontario.

Visitation will be held Friday September 17, from 6:30 until 9 p.m. at Green Funeral Home in Fort Frances, Ontario. Prayers will be offered at 7 p.m.

Pallbearers will be Allan Gushulak, Christopher Gogosha, Neil Gushulak, Murray Wepruk, Chuck Armit and Terry Munn. Honourary pallbearers will be family, friends and neighbours.

Should friends so desire, in lieu of flowers, in memoriam donations may be made to either the Fort Frances Community Chest, 1201 Idylwilde Dr., Fort Frances, ON., P9A 3M3, or the charity of your choice in care of Green Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Fort Frances, ON., P9A 3M8.

Online condolences may be made in care of www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com