Obituaries

HOLLIE ANN OGIBOWSKI (nee ECKSTEIN) It is with great sorrow and incredible sadness that the family of Hollie Ann Ogibowski announces her passing on Saturday, March 24, 2012, at the Health Sciences Centre, at the age of 43 years, after a brief but courageous battle with illness. Left to forever cherish Hollie’s memory is her loving husband and soul mate of 19 years of marriage, Roy Ogibowski. Also left to mourn and miss their mom, the center of Hollie’s universe, her amazing and treasured children Vanessa, Monica, and Nicholas; loving mother Helen Eckstein; sister Tobi (Ron) Sandquist; brother Brett (Pennie) Eckstein; Uncle Ed (Linda) Kluss and family; father and mother-in-law Tony and Evelyn Ogibowski; sisters-in-law, Angela (Steven) Forbes, Anita (Jeff) Luif, Tammy (Kyle) Rostosky; nieces and nephews, Sarah (Jessy), Lisa (Jamie), Ashley, Rebecca, Matthew, Keenan, Josh, Ben, Madison, Meagan, and great-nephew Blake. She was predeceased by her father Marvin Eckstein as well as grandparents Philip and Margaret Eckstein and her nanny Kay Kluss. Hollie was born and raised in East Elmwood, attended Kent Road and Elmwood High School. Before married life she worked in modeling as well as various retail ventures. She was an incredible, beautiful, loving woman whose life revolved around her children and husband. Her home was indeed her castle and while she was a mother first and foremost, striving to be the perfect homemaker was a really close second. Not even a second really…more like 1 and 1A. Hollie adored her role as a stay-at-home mom. She took immense pride in making her house a home…cleaning and decorating it to perfection all with an eye to keeping her family as comfortable as possible. Like most Manitobans, she tolerated winter but reveled in summer with the same passion normally reserved for her children. Hollie spent her summers outdoors, gardening and manicuring her yard. When not bringing the outside of her house up to the same standards as the inside, time was spent at Grand Beach with toes in the sand, water lapping at her ankles, soaking up the sun. The habitual song in her heart would often escape, manifesting itself in dance. She would often dance and sing along to music with anybody who dared to try to keep up with her…and very few could. Hollie was also a huge lover of animals, having various pets throughout her life with a special love for dogs. A Celebration of Hollie’s Life will be held on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at 1:00 p.m., in Holy Redeemer Roman Catholic Church, 264 Donwood Drive. A lunch will follow downstairs after the service. A private family Interment will be held at a later date. Honorary pallbearers will be Brett Eckstein, Ron Sandquist, Matthew Sandquist, Steven Forbes, Jeff Luif and Kyle Rostosky. Special thanks to Dr. Gary Harding, Dr. James Paul, Dr. Gary Shroeder, her Sunny Hills sisters and families, Members of the Winnipeg Fire Department and her best friend Lori Dudeck and family. Flowers are gratefully declined. For those wishing to make donations in Hollie’s memory, please support a charity of your choice. Mom, When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw all you did for me. When you thought I wasn’t listening, I heard every word. You made me who I am. You will always and forever be our Dancing Queen   As published in the Winnipeg Free Press on March 31, 2012