Lena Grabowski

Lena died peacefully at LaVerendrye General Hospital in Fort Frances, Ontario on June 14, 2011, with her husband Stan and children, Linda, Deanne and Julie at her side.

Lena was born at the family homestead in Gardenton, Manitoba on August 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. She also attended Robert Moore School. At a young age she started to work for her father at his confectionary store, then at Kutzak’s Grocery store. She also worked at the Rainbow Motel, which her father 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 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 over 25 years and a member of St. George’s Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church for over 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, Manitoba; Deanne Nephin (Ken) of Dryden, Ontario; Julie McGowan (Brent) of Thunder Bay, Ontario; and grandchildren, Brad Kirk (Nancy) of Ste. Anne, Manitoba; Scott Kirk (Arla) of Brandon, Manitoba; Sherry Stepaniuk (Glenn) of Winnipeg, Manitoba; Kevin Nephin (Denae Sveinson) and Patrick Nephin, all of Red Deer, Alberta; Bryan McGowan, Brenden McGowan and Jason McGowan (Lesley Harding) all of Thunder Bay, Ontario; 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 am at Green Funeral Home with Reverend Father Gene Maximiuk officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service commencing at 10 am. Interment at Riverview Cemetery will follow service.

The pallbearers will be her grandchildren; Brad Kirk, Scott Kirk, Sherry Stepaniuk, Kevin Nephin, Patrick Nephin, Bryan McGowan and Brendan McGowan. Honorary 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 in care of Green Funeral Home, Fort Frances, Ontario P9A 3M8.

On-line condolences may be made in care of www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com