Lydia Anne Tataryn

Unexpectedly with family at her side on June 12, 2020, Lydia Tataryn passed away at the Grace General Hospital at 82 years of age.

Mourning her passing are her daughters Susan Cloutier (Glen Bennett), Lisa Tataryn (Ernesto Espinosa), son Chris Tataryn (Lara McRitchie); brother Frank (Donna) Hruska; and grandchildren Ainsley, Meagan, Evan (Cloutier) and Isabella (Espinosa).

She is predeceased by her husband, Maurice Tataryn; daughter Patricia Tataryn; and parents Matthew and Mary Hruska.

Lydia’s early years were spent in the North End, attending Holy Ghost School and later graduating from St. John’s High School. She was an avid baseball player in high school. Lydia went on to become a Registered Nurse, graduating from St. Boniface School of Nursing in 1958. During her school years, she made many lifelong friends, who she kept in contact with up until her unexpected passing. There were many stories of those friendships and impromptu trips in her Corvair. Upon her graduation, she ventured to Calgary for a brief period before coming back to Winnipeg, where she took a nursing position at St. Boniface Hospital in their Pediatric Unit.

Through a mutual friend, Lydia agreed to a blind date and met Maurice. They became inseparable and married in 1965, settling in St. Norbert and raising their four children. While the kids were young, Lydia remained at home. Once the youngest, Lisa, was in school, Lydia returned to nursing, working at the Victoria General Hospital until her retirement in 1987.

Lydia was an avid family camper with many trips throughout Canada and the USA. The traveling took them to their Petersfield property, where the trailer came to reside. Many weekends were spent there with family and the fabulous neighbours: boating, waterskiing and watching the kids enjoying the 1950’s rubber dinghy. She was a dedicated nurse, excellent holiday baker, and masterful holupchi chef. As a talented seamstress, her annual halloween costumes always fit perfectly over snowsuits and the homemade first communion dresses were cherished. Every winter, newly knitted mittens and slippers were a household favourite. Lydia always had enough prepared food waiting in the freezer for any time her children and grandchildren would visit. Christmas baking could be found stored in the trailer along with a series of missing knives and spoons from the house and children’s footprints. Her love of music started with violin playing and continued with her children playing piano and guitar.

With the support of her loving husband, children, and her friends, she bravely struggled and overcame oromandibular dystonia, a chronic and painful medical condition. There were many trips for treatment to various places in Canada and the USA. She often commented that she had botox treatments before it even became a beauty trend.

Lydia faced many hardships including the passing of Patricia in 1993 and Maurice in 2004. She was surrounded and support by her family, lifelong friends and neighbours.

Lydia was an avid computer user, always looking to understand more about technology through courses and online research, in addition to hours of watching and listening to OTR and youtube videos, and online games. She recently learned to do virtual calls with her grandkids and the 24/5 support they extended to her.

We would like to extend many thanks to the fire paramedics and ambulance staff, as well to the fantastic staff of the emergency department at the Grace Hospital for their attention and care provided. We were also grateful visiting opened up and we were able to be with her to the end. A big thank you to the many homecare staff who supported her over the years allowing her to remain at home.

She will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts. Lydia has gone home to be with her family who went before her.

Cremation has taken place and due to the restrictions on travel, her funeral mass will be held at a later date at St. Vital Church.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in her memory to St. Amant Centre, Siloam Mission, Heart and Stroke Foundation or to a charity of your choice.