Obituary of Ruby Victoria Steffan

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing of our beloved Mother, Grandma, and Great-Grandma, Ruby Victoria Steffan (nee Topnik) at the age of 88.

She is survived by two daughters: Karen Neufeld (Don), Lori Kostyniuk (Brian), and one son: Darrell (Carol), seven grandchildren: Angela, Brandy (Bryan), Shawn, Ashley (Zach), Kayla, Ryan, and Keri, and two great-grandchildren: Hunter and Alyssa, and three brothers and one sister.

Ruby was predeceased by her beloved husband Melvin, her parents, six brothers, and five sisters.

Mom was born on July 24, 1933, at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, MB to Carl and Natalie Topnik. Her humble beginnings living on the farm in Greenwald, MB truly helped to shape her into the gracious, compassionate, and loving woman that we adored so much.

In 1953, Mom moved to Winnipeg, and this is where she met the love of her life, Melvin. Mom and Dad ran a grocery and dry goods store called ‘Steffan’s Cash and Carry’ for eight years, and then went on to build and operate a butcher shop in Kleefeld right up until three weeks before Dad’s tragic passing on September 2, 1985. They spent 31 wonderful, but short years together, and this was the monumental event in Mom’s life from which she would never fully recover. She missed Dad every single day, telling us stories about their life together often, and how dearly she missed him. For 36 years, she looked forward to the day that they would be reunited, and now they are finally together again, for eternity in Heaven.

To know Mom was to love and adore her. She made friends with everyone she met, adults and children alike. Her tenderness and warmth left people better than she found them, and this is such a testament to the way she lived her life. She exercised such humility and devotion in everything that she did, leaving big shoes to fill, almost impossibly so. Mom had many talents and hobbies that kept her busy over the years. She enjoyed the fellowship of Wednesday quilting and alter duty at church for many years, volunteering at MCC, knitting her famous slippers and sewing jean quilts for multiple family members. Mom loved cooking and baking, and she had quite a few recipes that were her specialty; you never left her house hungry! In recent years, while living in Fernwood, Mom tended to the flowers on the 6^th floor balcony with great care. She loved word searches and colouring pictures, which we proudly display on our fridges. She spent lots of time with her best friend Tina; they enjoyed going for walks together, sitting outside and visiting, and doing any activities that were available to them.

Mom’s faith and her family were the firm foundation of her life. Whether she was walking 2.5 miles each way to St. John’s Lutheran Church as a young girl, or sitting in the same pew every Sunday at St. Paul’s, her love of Christ guided her through all of life’s ups-and-downs. From her worn out Bibles to little pieces of paper with written verses found throughout her home, her steadfast relationship with God endured and stood the test of time.

The come & go viewing will be held on Wednesday, September 8, 2021, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB. 

The funeral service will be held on Thursday, September 9, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. at the St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Steinbach, MB., with viewing prior to the service. 

The interment will be held at the St. John's Cemetery, R.M. of Hanover, MB. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Heart and Stroke Foundation or St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Memorial Fund.