Kaye Snatenchuk

Kaye Snatenchuk

The world lost a shining presence on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 when my beautiful Mother, Kaye, died peacefully after a short illness in Winnipeg. 

She delighted in going out for coffee and hosting lunches and dinners with her many friends and family, young and old, surprising them with her newest recipe, great conversation and thoughtful gifts.  Mom loved her garden and when she downsized from the family home on Waugh Road to the cozy Country Villas in East St Paul, she continued to fill whatever space available with carefully tended flowers that she kept in the sunroom of her home and brought out in spring and summer. She took pictures of family and friends on every occasion and shared those, too. Mom/Kaye loved birds and had a few bird feeders in her backyard and a book nearby to identify the colourful birds that visited her there. Each Christmas, and all holidays in fact, she spent time decorating her home in the most festive ways. A favourite singing Santa made her grandkids, Oliver, and Sofia, laugh with delight.

Mom was an adventurous spirit, her most recent trip being a Safari in South Africa in 2020. She has travelled to all the continents, was part of a cycling club and played badminton. She also liked to jump in her car and drive to Calgary until just recently, she was a force for bringing family together. 

Kaye was an elementary school teacher, graduating from Teachers College and then moving on to get her Bachelor of Education in 1989. She also worked with her beloved Bill in his piling business, typing invoices late at night after a day of teaching.

 She volunteered at Good Neighbours and Meals on Wheels as well as working at her beloved St. Joseph’s church with her community (UCWLC)to create delicious meals, volunteered at Manitoba Theatre Centre and was a long-standing season ticket holder of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

Kaye loved to golf and took that up about 21 years ago, being part of a club and going on many bus trips to the US to enjoy time with friends, a little game of chance at a casino and hit the links. 

The word most people use to describe Kaye is "kind." She was also generous, cheerful, funny, smart, witty, sentimental, enthusiastic and an extremely talented editor who listened attentively to her granddaughter's ethics essay, providing feedback and support.

Born in Rosefield, Saskatchewan, to Ksenia (Catherine) Bzdel and Michael Karalash, she and her sisters, Julie Belinski and Mary Swiderski (predeceased) and brother John Karalash moved around Saskatchewan and Manitoba finally settling in Winnipeg.  Mom met William (Metro Bill) Snatenchuk, married in 1955, and his passion for life and her adventurous spirit made for a beautiful life together. 

Kaye is survived by her daughter, Kerilee and son-in-law Lou, her brother John (Stephie), grandchildren Oliver and Sofia, step-grandchildren Louis and Ethan, many nieces and nephews and an abundance of close friends. 

A celebration of Kaye’s life will be held on Monday, March 13th at St.Joseph’s Ukrainian Catholic in Winnipeg, MB at 10 am. Lunch and celebration of life to follow in the church basement. This obituary may be viewed at Korban.