Caroline Ann Churko

CAROLINE ANN CHURKO

October 8, 1947 – April 19, 2019

On April 19th with heavy hearts we said goodbye to our mom, sister & dear friend Carol. She is forever remembered by her family – sons Colin (Heather) & Adam, brothers Cas (Penni) & Mike (Madelene), sister Pat (Al), grandchildren Nicholas, Lachlan, Savanna, & Gus, & by her nieces & nephews Jacqui, Brian, Reid, Sarah, Lisa, & Matthew.  

Born October 8, 1947 in Barrie, Ontario, Carol was the eldest child of Casimer & Nell Churko. She travelled across the country, a self-proclaimed Air Force Brat, graduating high school while the family was stationed in Calgary. She went directly into nursing school & graduated with the Class of ’67 from St. Boniface General Hospital School as a Registered Nurse.  

She spent nearly her entire 40-year professional career at St. B where she held several leadership roles. She was Head Nurse of the Medical ICU where, because of her expertise in EKGs &cardiac medications, she developed a critical care training program for residents. She then became an Instructor in the Intensive Care Nursing Course & later the Head Nurse in Intensive Care Surgery. Her most recent positions were as an instructor in the LPN School of Nursing & then a Clinical Resource Nurse on the CVT unit. Carol was widely liked &respected by those she worked with & touched many lives.

Carol retired in 2006 to fulfill her dreams of travelling the world. She visited PEI & Nova Scotia, British Columbia,travelled south to Cozumel, & of course to her beloved Provence, France. She returned from her trip to Italy in 2011 just in time for Colin’s wedding. She loved her grandchildren & was over the moon holding each one for the first time. Family always came first, but she was also known to enjoy Friday “Board Meetings” with the gang at Santa Lucia or attending MTC with her lovely ladies. She had a love for animals & would often conclude family dinners with a long walk accompanied by her faithful companion, Taeko. She was a volunteer puppeteer to help kids living with cancer, & her love of reading led her to narrate audio books for CNIB.  

Although retirement plans were temporarily sidetracked by a Lewy Body Dementia diagnosis, Carol’s brilliant mind & fierce stubborn streak earned hard won independence for most of the six-year journey.  She fought tooth & nail for each day spent loving her grandkids & didn’t let dementia define her. She loved lunch dates with friends & Art to Inspire at the WAG. She kept up regular chats with her boys & adored reading to her grandkids. More than that, she loved life & was an inspiration to us all.  Rest well mom.  

The family wishes to thank the staff at Irene Baron Eden Centre for making it feel like home. Heartfelt thanks to the healthcare staff, especially the wonderful nurses, who cared for mom at Concordia General Hospital. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at Niakwa Country Club on Sunday, April 28th at 11am (620 Niakwa Rd)

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba.