Obituaries

CAROL ANN MRAVINEC
(nee KARNAFEL)
June 24, 1944 – February 5, 2024

It is with profound sadness that we announce the death of Carol, beloved wife, daughter, sister, mother, aunt, grandmother and great-grandmother; who passed away peacefully in her home on Monday, February 5, 2024 at the age of 79 years, following a courageous battle with cancer.
She leaves to mourn, her loving husband of 58 years, John; children Michael, Christopher (Donna), Vernon (Maria), Jennifer (Steve) and Frances (Phil); grandchildren Tyler (Alaina), Joshua, Shilo, Natalia and Isabella; great-grandson Noah; brother Peter; numerous nieces and nephews including Teresa, Helen, Paul, Steven, Frank and Shannon; and many extended family members here and abroad.

She was predeceased by her parents Stefan and Verona Karnafel and sister Helen Liska.

Carol was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, at the St. Boniface Hospital to Stefan and Verona Karnafel (nee Futros). The eldest of three children, she grew up in Prairie Grove, Manitoba, attending Prairie Grove School in her junior years, then the Convent in Lorette for her senior years. She went on to become a Laboratory Technician, graduating from Red River Community College in 1965. She worked in that role until the early 1970’s when she devoted herself to raising her family.

Mom always made family a priority and dedicated herself to raising her children, and still found time to help others and earn a living. She volunteered her time and abilities in the local community, holding various roles and always helping where she could. She was a 4H Club leader and instructor, served on numerous church committees and groups, and was a long-time member of the local chapters of the Manitoba Women’s Institute and Catholic Women’s League. She worked for the Creative Circle during the child-rearing years, putting her stitching and embroidery skills to work and travelling to conduct needlework parties across southern Manitoba. As her home life and her children’s needs calmed, she took a job as a server at the Deacon’s Corner Salisbury House restaurant, where she worked from the early 1990’s until retiring in 2004.

Carol used her gifts of patience, nurturing and creativity to bring forth goodness in all she did. She always had a kind word or helpful advice for those in need, and regularly checked in on her extensive circle of friends. She loved to read and enjoyed going to Mexico for a break in the winter. Her talents were evident in her many hobbies/pursuits.

She had a deep love of gardening, plants and flowers. Her devotion to all thing’s flora was on magnificent display both inside and outside her house. Her vegetable garden was always well-weeded and large enough to feed many families, her flower gardens bursting with colour and spilling out of their borders. The circular driveway flower garden became a welcoming focus point for the entire yard.

She also loved music very much, and singing even more. She sang in the church choir for many years and gave some very heartfelt and beautiful performances at her children’s weddings.
Baking was another happy place for Carol. No one ever went without dessert or a birthday cake when she was around, even if the birthday was a month or two passed. She baked for fun and for others, lending her skills to whomever needed them when trays of dainties were required.

We would like to give special thanks to the following: CancerCare Manitoba, for being with Carol through her entire journey; the Southern Health Palliative Care Team for their compassionate, professional and enabling work; and the Southern Health Home Care Team for providing timely support and relief. Thank you, Dr. Skrabek, Dr. Mehta, Dr. Reimer, Jill, Richard, Bev, Rose and so many others, for all of your good work.

Funeral services will be conducted at Our Lady of Hope Roman Catholic Church in Anola on Tuesday, February 13th, with prayers/viewing commencing at 10:00 a.m., funeral mass at 11:00 a.m., and a celebration of life following. Interment at Millbrook Cemetery will take place immediately after the mass.

For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18