Obituary of Josephine Semeniuk (nee Swiatkevich)

It is with heavy hearts and deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our Dear Wife and Best Friend, Mother, Grandmother (Baba), Sister, Aunt, Niece, Josephine Semeniuk on Sunday, May 9, 2021. Mom passed peacefully with her family at her side at Rest Haven Nursing Home on Mother’s Day.

She is survived by her husband William of 52 years and her two daughters: Sherry (Travis), Angela (Ron) and one son Kevin,  four grandchildren: Chelsey (Julian), Lexi, Nicholas, Jeremy and two brothers and their families. 

She was predeceased by her parents, one sister and one nephew.  

Mom was born in Vita, Manitoba. She grew up on a small farm in Lonesand. In her early school years she attended Lonesand and later attended school in Vita. After finishing school Mom went to work in Winnipeg, MB. Mom met Dad and later was married on April 26, 1969, in Sundown at the Holy Ascension Church. They made their home in Atikokan, Ontario on the lake where they had their two daughters, Sherry and Angela. In 1975, they moved back to Sundown, Manitoba where they returned to a life of farming. Their son Kevin was born in 1980 and they continued to raise their three children on the farm. She enjoyed being a mother and homemaker, as well helping dad on the farm. She found great enjoyment in cutting the lawn and even helped rake hay when dad needed a hand. She grew a garden and took care of the flowerbeds. 

Family was most important to mom and she enjoyed spending time with all of us. Her grandchildren were very special to her. Mom taught us to treasure our family always.

Mom was a wonderful cook but she also enjoyed eating out at restaurants. Some of our memories of eating out with mom and dad, included many meals at Hanya’s Hen House, Pioneer Inn and Uncle Jakes when we were kids. Once grandchildren arrived, Chicken Chef was the favourite meeting place to eat and celebrate special occasions. Mom and Dad also loved going to A&W for coffee to meet with their dear friends in their retirement days. Many Sunday mornings were spent at Shaker’s Inn in South Junction or the Woodridge Restaurant. 

As Mom got worse and could no longer walk and used her walker, we would ask her if she wanted to go for supper someplace different than Chicken Chef.  She would say “Chicken Chef; it feels like home.” She liked it there.

Mom loved Christmas shopping for everyone. It was her favourite time of year. Mom loved giving gifts even if it were birthdays, anniversaries, or any special reason she could find. 

Before Mom’s illness, she was a huge Jets Fan. Kevin would come home on weekends, and they would wear their Jets jerseys and watch the Saturday night hockey game on TV. Snacks and hockey went hand in hand. Her first Jets game she attended she was seated in Row 2 Center next to the penalty box where one of her favorite players ended up that evening. During the game, there was an ice storm and all Kevin had to clean the windshield was a credit card. That was a nerve wrecking ride home from Winnipeg back to the farm.

Mom enjoyed shopping, going on small overnight trips and going and spending time with her grandchildren until she could not walk anymore in 2018.  Some of those trips included Grand Forks, Winnipeg, Kenora, Hecla Island and Gimli. One of her memorable trips was going to Minneapolis to spend time with her granddaughters at Valley Fair and she also enjoyed going to visit her sister in Saskatoon. 

Mom was a wonderful cook; she spent countless hours preparing for holidays such as Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving. Everyone looked forward to an awesome home cooked meal. We all remember eating too much and not saving room for dessert, and then having dessert anyway because it was too hard to resist. Some of the family favourites were Baba’s beet leave buns, nalysnyky, meatballs, cabbage rolls, dill pickles, headcheese, blueberry perogies, and assorted pies.

Mom will be dearly missed by her family. Mom was so courageous; she had a five-year battle with ALS. Her endurance and strength were admired greatly. Mom had to move to an assisted living facility in early 2019 due to her illness. In this transition she made new friends who she was fond of. She stayed positive even though she encountered many losses as the disease progressed. She spent the last few months of her journey at Rest Haven Care Home. We watched her struggle until the Lord called our dear mother home. We know she is at peace now in Heaven, and we long for the day we will see her again. Mom, please know we love you and miss you so much and we will meet you again. 

We as a family would like to extend our heart-felt thanks for the prayers and support we have received. A special thank you to Dr. Curtis Krahn and the staff at Rest Haven Nursing Home as well as the staff at the Deer Lodge Centre Motor Neuron Disease Clinic. We also thank the homecare staff for their care and compassion that allowed Mom to remain at home prior to moving to the PCH.

If friends so desire, donations in memory of Josephine can be made to the ALS Society of Manitoba.

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27