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Obituary of Sandra Lynn Nakka
With profound sadness, we share the news of the passing of Sandra Lynn Nakka (nee Krampetz) on Monday, April 29, 2024, at the Riverview Health Centre, Winnipeg, MB., surrounded by her family.
Left to celebrate and cherish her life are her children Trevor (Diana), Heidi (Karl), Kyla (Darryl), and Tyler (Kerri), and grandchildren Megan, Rachel, Nate, Clark, Anja, Kara, Kaitlan, and Charlie.
She is also survived by her six siblings (Irene, Ron, Don, Marlene, Judy, and Doug), her sister-in-law Lorna, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Sandra was predeceased by her loving husband Norman in 2013, as well as by her parents Arthur & Rose Krampetz, infant grandson Ethan, and nephews Erin and Braden.
Sandra was born in Winnipeg on May 8, 1947, and grew up in Seven Sisters, Manitoba, where her father worked for Manitoba Hydro. As a young girl she spent many carefree days in the small town, attending school and learning the basics of the “domestic arts” from her mother that Sandra later, as a wife and mother, excelled at and was immensely proud of.
At the age of 14 she met Norm, the love of her life. They married four years later and settled in McMunn, Manitoba, where they would spend the rest of their lives. Their early years of marriage were spent working at Norm’s family-run service station on the Trans-Canada Highway in McMunn. Later, with Sandra supporting Norm in the family forestry business, they started the family that became their true pride and joy, and which defined their lives until the end.
Sandra took great pride in her role as supportive wife and mother. She held steadfast family values and had a strong work ethic, both of which were evident through years of raising her children and tending to her home. The house was always spotless and hearty home-cooked meals graced the table. Sandra loved cooking and baking, especially for holidays and special occasions. The dishes she prepared were always delicious and often legendary. She had a true talent for cooking and loved sharing her skills and knowledge with her daughters, and later her granddaughters.
Her fastidiousness and talent were evident outside in the yard as well. She always took great pride in her yard; and with Norm’s help, it was always carefully manicured. The flowers and vegetables were Sandra’s special domain. She had learned the basics of gardening from her father and worked tirelessly every spring to select, plant, and tend to her annual floral display which included carefully curated gardens and planters. Her attention to detail also carried over into the winter season. As her sons-in-law came to know, the Christmas lights on the house had to be laser straight, and none of the coloured bulbs could ever be out of proper sequence.
Sandra’s love of the outdoors also took her beyond the confines of her yard. The highlights of her summers were always the family camping and day trips to places like Falcon Lake, Rushing River, and Sioux Narrows. In later years, she and Norm treasured their trips in the motor home, often going further afield to places like Alberta and BC. Indeed, travel became a passion. She and Norm travelled together to Montreal many times, took a west coast cruise to Alaska, and also ventured to Italy. Sandra also visited England with her daughters and travelled solo to visit her grandchildren in places like Victoria, Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto. One of her most memorable and endearing trips was with Norm when they travelled to New York City for their 40th wedding anniversary.
In contrast to the travel, the familiar surroundings of McMunn and nearby hamlets such as East Braintree and Hadashville offered her permanence and lasting comfort. Surrounded by friends and family, she came to treasure her in some ways idyllic existence in this very special part of the world. A fixture of her life there was her sister Judy who lived across the street and who ended up being her neighbour for over 50 years. Before Sandra’s passing, they shared with each other how comforting it was to see the lights on at each others’ houses in the evening, knowing that they were there for each other.
No re-counting of Sandra’s life would be complete without mentioning her love for animals. Living on a rural property along the Birch River, the yard was always alive with all manner of wild and domesticated animals. She very much enjoyed and looked forward to the regular and occasional visits from deer, bears, foxes, squirrels, birds, and even the odd snapping turtle. Among the family pets she loved were cats, dogs, horses, hamsters, and even a goat. The love, though, was not always unconditional – it often depended on the incident severity stemming from dirty paws in the house or hoof prints in the garden. However, she always had a soft spot in her heart for the family pets, especially for her beloved dog Rosie, who was a source of much comfort to her after the passing of Norm.
Always thoughtful and caring, special occasions were - well - “special” for Sandra. No holiday, birthday, anniversary, wedding, or funeral passed without a special card from her. Christmas was her most beloved holiday. The lengths that she would go to make sure that decorum, decorations, meals, and ambience were just right, were legendary and served to provide many happy and lasting memories for her children and grandchildren.
As dedicated as Sandra was as a mother, in later years her grandchildren became the focal point and most important things in her life. She doted on and spoiled her grandchildren shamelessly, and her grandchildren loved it. Spending time with Granny was always cherished; in the city this included trips to the zoo, going to the movies, and shopping among other activities. Visits with Granny in McMunn were always extra special, however, where activities included learning to bake and cook, nature walks, bike rides, board games, and learning to drive the half-ton on dusty country roads. In turn, Granny came to mean the world for her grandchildren; she created lasting and cherished memories for them.
Tragically, early in 2023, Sandra was diagnosed with cancer. Her prognosis was not good, but she was a fierce and optimistic fighter, surprising her doctors and healthcare teams by surpassing their expectations many a time. In the end, however, she could not keep her horrible disease at bay any longer. May she rest in peace.
Cremation has taken place; a service and interment with immediate family was held at the Whitemouth Cemetery in Whitemouth, Manitoba on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Donations in Sandra’s honour may be made to CancerCare Manitoba or the Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba.
The family wishes to thank the caring and attentive staff at both Brightwater Senior Living and the Riverview Health Centre.
A limb has fallen from the family tree
I hear a voice that whispers, ‘Grieve not for me’
Remember the best times, the laughter, the songs
The good I lived while I was strong
Continue my heritage, I’m counting on you
Keep on smiling, the sun will shine through.
My mind is at ease, my soul is at rest
Remembering all…how I was truly blessed
Continue traditions, no matter how small
Go on with your lives, don’t stare at the wall
I miss you all dearly so keep up your chin
Until that fine day we’re together again.
