Frances Bilenki

Gracefully in the wee hours of Friday April 24, 2026, Frances Bilenki aged 99 years passed away in Winnipeg Manitoba, exactly 1 calendar week prior to her 100th birthday.

Frances was predeceased by her lifelong partner Alexander in September 2009. Her son Michael was committed to supporting Frances ever since.  

Frances was born in Winnipeg to Catharina and Bartholomeus Placan on May 1, 1926. She married Alexander Bilenki on May 9, 1953.

Frances leaves behind her sons Daniel (partner Jan) and Michael (partner Barbara), granddaughters Brandy (partner Sean, great grandsons Seth, Brock, Dean), and granddaughter Sherry (partner Calvin). 

She was a lifelong homemaker and mother with Alexander to Daniel and Michael and found time to help support the family as a bookkeeper and retail salesclerk at Eatons. She was also a great cook, particularly her homemade chicken noodle soup and dumplings.

Frances was an avid reader of books, her Divine Friend prayer book, and the local newspapers. She never missed a day to read them. Mom was the perfect source of local and current events to her sons in school, caught up with all the news, as well as watching television news.

She knew what was going on with all the old comedy sitcoms, movies, playing bingo, Ukrainian card games with family, friends, and relatives, and playing games with balloons. Frances never kept pets. Made her sneeze.

She also loved to travel to Winnipeg Beach and Grand Beach by train with Alexander, loved the Half Moon and Skinners restaurants on the road, and the Shanghai and New Nanking restaurants were her favorites in downtown Winnipeg. 

Frances also loved going to Clear Lake Manitoba and Lake Louise in Alberta. She particularly loved shopping with Jan, frequently stopping for chocolates and popcorn snacks while having coffee to take a break from all the shopping with Jan. She would always eat all the flavored popcorn first. Grandma Frances also showed young Brandy and Sherry how real shopping worked.

Frances will be put to eternal rest to join Alexander with a prayer service at:

Korban Funeral Chapel on Thursday May 7, 2026 at 10:00 AM.

Refreshment to follow prayer service.

Interment at Holy Family Cemetery early in the afternoon.

Mom, we will never forget you, your tireless efforts to raise us admirably will never be forgotten, you are in our hearts forever, and we will love you always .... AMEN !

Vichnaya Pamyat!