Frances Kozin

Frances died September 16th, a few hours short of her 97th birthday. She was born September 17th, 1927 in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

She was the oldest of six children and has one surviving sister, Louise Svetina of Toronto, ON. She was predeceased by her husband Dr. Frank in 1984. She leaves her children, Julie Schollenberg (Ed) of Rothesay, NB and Robert of Els Poblets, Spain, her grandchildren Erica Schollenberg (Johnathan Munroe) of Halifax, NS, Viki MacMillan of Quispamsis, NB, and Nick Schollenberg (Julie) of Quispamsis, NB. She also leaves three great-grandchildren, Oliver and Isla MacMillan and Eddie Schollenberg. She also leaves several nieces, nephews and in-laws in Ontario and Slovenia.

As the oldest child she was the only one who was able to flee her home on foot due to events of World War II. She ended up in a displaced persons camp in Austria, where she lived for four years before being allowed to emigrate to Canada in 1948, eventually landing in Winnipeg. She and her husband were able to buy a brand new house in Transcona in 1959, where she stayed until almost the end of her life.

She was an active member of Our Lady of Lourdes Slovenian Church and St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church for many years. She and her husband (with the help of their Slovenian friends) built a cottage at Lakeshore Heights on Lake Winnipeg, where they spent many summers.

Frances left her home country before she finished school, so she went back as an adult to finish high school and went on to the University of Winnipeg, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in her fifties. She maintained a vegetable garden well into her nineties. Her homemade egg noodles were legendary, and everyone who knew her has pieces of her embroidery, knitting and pottery.

When she could no longer manage at home she (after a couple of moves) ended up at Concordia Place, where she received excellent care for the last seven months.

Many thanks to the many friends who looked after and visited her over the many years she lived alone. These include Norm Mitchell (whose parents took her and her husband in when they arrived in Winnipeg so many years ago), Louise Page, Marjorie and Jim Kolson, and lastly Justina Kehler, who looked after her in all the places she lived after leaving her house.

Flowers gratefully declined. Donations can be made to the St. Boniface Hospital Foundation or the charity of your choice. Arrangements in care of Green Acres. A ceremony is planned for a later date.