Obituaries

Susan Ellen Oleschuk
October 14, 1968 – November 1st, 2025

It is with profound sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Susan Oleschuk. On Saturday November 1st surrounded by family Susan left us for heaven.

Susan was predeceased by her father Jack, and her father-in-law Ron Bailey,

Susan is survived by her life partner of over 32 years Brad, her daughter Joy Fenning, grandchildren Marissa and Arianna, her mother Carole, mother-in law Bonnie Belfeld, step mother-in-law Sharon Bryant, sister Angela Robinson (Tim), nephews Liam and Jared, brother-in-law Troy (Karin), niece Krystal Morgan (Kevin), nephews, Brett and Tyler, and many special friends.

Susan was born and raised in Winnipeg, growing up mainly in the Windsor Park area. She attended Windsor Park Collegiate. Susan was a force of nature and those who knew her, knew that she had a heart of gold, and would do anything to help someone in need.

In 1991 Susan began working at Midway Chrysler it was here she would meet the man she would spend her life with. Susan and Brad became a couple in Oct of 1993 and never looked back. Although their journey would have many obstacles, they always came out stronger in the end.

Susan and Brad faced many challenges early in their relationship starting in 1999 with the loss of Jack her father. Susan was very close to her father, and this was a very painful loss, in 2000 Brad was diagnosed with cancer, and with that stress Susan had a miscarriage. In 2003 they realized that due to all the cancer treatments they could they no longer have children. It was at this time Susan was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.

Then in October of 2007 God answered Susan’s prayers by reuniting her with the daughter that she gave up at birth. Susan spent many years hoping this day would come and when it did, it came with a little surprise. Not only did she get to meet her daughter Joy, but Joy had a beautiful almost 3-year-old little girl Marissa. Joy and Marissa brought hope to Susan, and now she had the family she always wanted. The girls helped to take her mind off the pain of M.S, and she was beginning to enjoy life again. It was such a thrill for Susan to watch Marissa grow as she never got to see it with Joy. Then in 2014 along came grand daughter number two, Arianna. This was a special time for Susan as she got to watch Joy’s pregnancy, and to be there to watch her second granddaughter being born. Ari loved Susan, and she would follow her everywhere, Susan loved having two amazing granddaughters.

Susan loved her Nanny dearly and admired her ability to make everyone she loved happy. Susan spent her life trying to bring the same joy to everyone she loved. Susan learned to bake and cook from her nanny, and Susan did love to cook, and bake.

She always found a way to make things taste better a little doctoring up she’d call it. She always found a way to make something taste, and look beautiful.

Susan loved to love, she loved to make people happy, and she enjoyed large family gatherings. She loved spending hours wrapping presents with just the right bow and the right hand made personal cards on every present. Her cards, and presents were always works of art, she paid so much attention to detail, making sure it was exactly right for each recipient.

Susan loved random acts of kindness. She loved being able to do things for people she knew and didn’t know for no reason, just to make their day better.

Susan was a cat and dog whisperer. Animals adored Susan, and she adored them.
Sadly, the M.S was becoming harder to manage and harder to hide, and the last 8 years were incredibly hard on Susan. She was in constant pain, and slowly losing use of her legs, and arms and things became worse daily. She was upset that she couldn’t be the Nanny to Ari that she was to Marissa, and this deeply hurt her. She lost the ability to bake, and to cook large dinners for her family, and that made holidays depressing for Susan.

Susan would have loved if we all would consider a random act of kindness. Someone you know, even a stranger, small or big, just something that makes a difference for someone else. It could be a simple as just holding open a door, something that makes someone else’s day a little bit better.

In Lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Manitoba Multiple Sclerosis Research. There are so many people suffering in silence with this disease. Manitoba has one of the highest rates of M.S in the world.

The family wants to thank the Oakbank Fire Department, and Oakbank Paramedics for all they did. The St. Boniface Hospital for the compassion, and empathy they showed us. Glenn and the staff at Oakbank Pharmasave for all the years of compassion, and all help with her many prescriptions. Susan always spoke of how well she was treated there.

A private family gathering will be held in the future.

Although you left us too soon, and we are broken hearted, with hearts that with never be the same without you. Knowing you are pain free, knowing that every struggle is now over, makes letting go possible.

Until we meet again…..