Danielle Thérese Sestak (née Kindret)

With heavy hearts, we announce the sudden passing of Danielle Sestak (née Kindret) on January 13, 2023, at the age of 43.

Danielle was a true blessing to her family, born on August 7, 1979, as the cherished first grandchild to both sets of grandparents; Arthur & Thérèse D’Eschambault and William & Thérese Kindret, and the beloved daughter of Wayne Kindret and Diane D’Eschambault.

Having been surrounded by horses, barn cats, and countless black labs from a young age, she developed a deep love for all creatures. She grew up dreaming of a career in marine biology, presumably because she thought that meant she would spend the rest of her life playing with dolphins. Danielle happily compromised by spending weekends at the family cottage in Lac Du Bonnet, a place that held a very special place in her heart. Memories of summers past include learning the 15-1 & 15-2's of cribbage with Mémere, holding on for dear life on the tube with her uncles at the helm, and fighting over who got to sleep and hang out in the boathouse.

Danielle's time as an only child came to an end 9 years later when her little sister Joelle was born. Luckily for Joelle, she embraced her role as a big sister with pride, unwavering love, and care. With an age gap of almost a decade, she often found herself stepping into a motherly role, providing guidance, protection, and support for her little sister. Danielle was selfless in her efforts to always protect her sister’s best interests. She was always there to remind her little sister of how proud she was of her and always put Joelle's well-being first.

During her high school years, Danielle mostly avoided the hallways of College Louis-Riel with her best friend Jo-Anne by her side. Jo-Anne would spend many years as part of the family, coming to almost every family dinner, event or celebration. They were affectionately known as "Dan and Jo" and were known for being inseparable.

After graduation, Danielle embarked on a fulfilling career in customer service, where she formed deep connections with many colleagues and friends. Despite her self-proclaimed "non-people person" persona, her kind and compassionate nature were undeniable. It was impossible for those she interacted with not to feel heard, understood, and seen. She had a remarkable ability to connect with all types of people and share herself in a way that made a lasting impact on those around her.

Danielle savored the simple pleasures in life. She loved the candy-colored prairie skies, the calm stillness of being by the water, and as we all know - anything four-legged and furry. She found comfort in her garden and loved to lose herself in a good book, pastimes she inherited from her late mother. She especially loved to watch the astonishment and awe on bystanders' faces as she snacked on raw green onions dipped in salt.

To truly know Danielle’s essence was to witness pure happiness in the genuinely authentic moments in her life. It would be to hear her rap every single word to “Shoop”, unabashedly. To feel the sheer euphoria radiate from her smile when swaddling a newborn puppy in her arms. It would be to catch her “rump-shaking” whenever the right song came on or to have been lucky enough to go for a drive with her, windows down, in the country or to the lake. To be fortunate enough to grab a seat by the water with her, by a bonfire, or simply to be looking out at the fields across her home and listen to her brag about how much she loved her #countrylife.

Above all, it would have been to listen to her proudly tell the stories of those she loved the most. Listening to her talk about Ethan’s incredible achievements and to listen to her boast about what a fine young man he grew up to be. To listen to her proudly tell everyone that her cousin Alaina gave her daughter Madelyn "Danielle" as a middle name in her honor. Despite facing her own darkness, Danielle never lost her ability to find joy and light in others. She always found a way to brag and talk with pride about the people she cherished the most in her life.

Danielle's passing has left a profound impact on all those who knew her. Her kind and compassionate nature radiated to everyone she met, and her memory will be cherished forever. Though her life was cut short, we find solace in the fact that she is now at peace, free from the struggles of addiction and the pain it brought to her life.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, January 31st, 2023 at 10:00 am at Green Acres Funeral Home located at 1 Green Acres Lane, Navin, MB, R5T 0H2.

Due to her devotion and love for all animals, in lieu of flowers, we invite you to please make a donation to Jenn’s Furry Friends in Danielle’s honor. E-transfer donations in her name can be sent to [email protected].

The Sestak, Kindret & D'Eschambault families would like to thank everyone for their love & kind words during this incredibly difficult time.