Obituary for Victoria Varga
Hi mom, you did so much for us growing up raising three kids and you had all your funeral arrangements made so we didn’t have to fret, but left it to us to write your obituary. You held our hands when we learned to walk and cheered us onto university, so you must have felt we are capable, here goes:
Mom was born August 11, 1935 on a farm at Insinger, Saskatchewan, first of four children of Kay & Joe Malinowski, and left us after 86 revolutions around the sun on November 23, 2021. Where she began there was no indoor plumbing, heat came from a wood stove, the farm work was done by hand as there was no tractor, and grandpa did not install electric power until she had moved to the city. School was a long walk and maybe a horse ride or by sleigh on cold winter days. We found mom’s report cards showing marks putting her first in the class at her one-room school. What smarts we have come from mom.
She shared with us stories of growing up without much money but how she never felt poor. Finishing grade 9, mom went off to sewing school in Saskatoon and then moved to Winnipeg and began work as a seamstress. She was a sewer all her life and only weeks ago had her sewing machine in for repair. If there was a job to be done, mom did it. She could sew a dress, hammer a nail, grow a garden, lead a cub pack and ride the scary rides with us at The Ex.
Married in 1954 to Rudy Varga (deceased 1996) mom had three children. She stayed home when we were young but sometime after went out to work in the grocery trade, mostly at Family Fare as a cashier, order taker, bookkeeper. It all sounds rather straightforward until you ask how many times the store was robbed at gunpoint.
Mom learned to manage on a frugal budget early in life and those skills never left her. She was the consummate saver, whether it was plastic bags or margarine containers, blazing the trail for today’s reuse and recycle trend. Despite our encouragement she would not part with her floral covered couch, even when moving into her brand-new apartment a couple years ago. Old and out of style it was comfortable and mom would take no guff about buying a new one.
Later in life mom found Bruce Massey (deceased 2017) when he asked her to dance at The Legion and for sixteen years were a loving couple enjoying time together travelling and sitting beside a campfire. We would like to give special thanks to Bruce’s son Glenn and his wife Annette and their children Ryan and Val who provided friendship, great care, and assistance.
There are many not mentioned here from mom’s family, Bruce’s family, friends from bowling, The Legion, Widlake Apartment and others who were close and dear to her. We are holding a celebration of her life on Sunday, November 28th. Due to Covid restrictions, proof of vaccination is required and we are limited to 50 visitors. To let us know you are interested in attending, email: vickifarewell@gmail.com. Time and location to be provided. Interment will take place with a family graveside service in Yorkton, Saskatchewan in the spring.
Missing mom dearly are the kids David (Dianne), Donna (Robert Lanning), Darrell (Shana McGuire), Anne-Marie Smith and grandchildren Ben & Sara.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the staff of the palliative care unit at St. Boniface hospital. You are very special people. In lieu of flowers a donation can be made to The St. Boniface Hospital Foundation.
Mom was born August 11, 1935 on a farm at Insinger, Saskatchewan, first of four children of Kay & Joe Malinowski, and left us after 86 revolutions around the sun on November 23, 2021. Where she began there was no indoor plumbing, heat came from a wood stove, the farm work was done by hand as there was no tractor, and grandpa did not install electric power until she had moved to the city. School was a long walk and maybe a horse ride or by sleigh on cold winter days. We found mom’s report cards showing marks putting her first in the class at her one-room school. What smarts we have come from mom.
She shared with us stories of growing up without much money but how she never felt poor. Finishing grade 9, mom went off to sewing school in Saskatoon and then moved to Winnipeg and began work as a seamstress. She was a sewer all her life and only weeks ago had her sewing machine in for repair. If there was a job to be done, mom did it. She could sew a dress, hammer a nail, grow a garden, lead a cub pack and ride the scary rides with us at The Ex.
Married in 1954 to Rudy Varga (deceased 1996) mom had three children. She stayed home when we were young but sometime after went out to work in the grocery trade, mostly at Family Fare as a cashier, order taker, bookkeeper. It all sounds rather straightforward until you ask how many times the store was robbed at gunpoint.
Mom learned to manage on a frugal budget early in life and those skills never left her. She was the consummate saver, whether it was plastic bags or margarine containers, blazing the trail for today’s reuse and recycle trend. Despite our encouragement she would not part with her floral covered couch, even when moving into her brand-new apartment a couple years ago. Old and out of style it was comfortable and mom would take no guff about buying a new one.
Later in life mom found Bruce Massey (deceased 2017) when he asked her to dance at The Legion and for sixteen years were a loving couple enjoying time together travelling and sitting beside a campfire. We would like to give special thanks to Bruce’s son Glenn and his wife Annette and their children Ryan and Val who provided friendship, great care, and assistance.
There are many not mentioned here from mom’s family, Bruce’s family, friends from bowling, The Legion, Widlake Apartment and others who were close and dear to her. We are holding a celebration of her life on Sunday, November 28th. Due to Covid restrictions, proof of vaccination is required and we are limited to 50 visitors. To let us know you are interested in attending, email: vickifarewell@gmail.com. Time and location to be provided. Interment will take place with a family graveside service in Yorkton, Saskatchewan in the spring.
Missing mom dearly are the kids David (Dianne), Donna (Robert Lanning), Darrell (Shana McGuire), Anne-Marie Smith and grandchildren Ben & Sara.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the staff of the palliative care unit at St. Boniface hospital. You are very special people. In lieu of flowers a donation can be made to The St. Boniface Hospital Foundation.