Obituaries

JOANN ONISKO

March 24, 1955 – October 29, 2019

We’ve lost a part of ourselves at the sudden loss of our sister Joann. Marilyn Onisko, Laurie and Kevin Smart are left with such extreme sorrow. Also left to mourn are two aunts, Tina Guspie and Mary Hanney, both of Toronto, and numerous cousins in Manitoba, Ontario and British Columbia.

Joann was a generous, caring and creative soul who was over prepared for every event and who thought of family first, always.

Joann loved her retirement from Revenue Canada. Summers were spent at the Lester Beach cottage and in her garden. She could work there from dusk to dawn. Flowers were everywhere and her roses flourished into the first snow. In the winter, Joann worked on her craft – a past time she enjoyed with her friend Judy and many others. She even worked patiently to help Marilyn with card making. Throughout the year, Joann was a member of the Wellness Centre and worked out 4 to 5 times a week. She truly valued the friendships she had there. The Yoga Centre was another regular spot. And there was always an adventure away – Europe, Asia, Central America, Hawaii. She never said no to a late winter trip or to the happy hours that went with the trip. But perhaps her favourite spot was Laurie and Kevin’s cottage at Ingolf – for a lazy summer visit but mostly for the family Christmas time. Beer-tasting, skirmishes with wildlife, kayaking, winter hikes, a crazy gift exchange that always brought laughter and will be “twisted” into our forever memories.

Joann’s final act of generosity was the Gift of Life. Thank you to the ICU staff at Health Sciences Centre for their respectful and compassionate care.

In keeping with her wishes, cremation has taken place and there will be no funeral service. A private interment will be held at a later date.

Donations may be made in Joann’s memory to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba, 1379 Kenaston Blvd., Winnipeg, MB R3P 2T5.

“The greatest gift our parents gave us was each other.” 

VICHNAYA PAMYAT