Mary (Kolginsky) Kozubniak

It is with deep sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of our mother Mary Kozubniak on Friday, December 20th at Concordia Hospital at the age of 98.

Mary will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by her daughter Diane Baldwinson, granddaughter Lisa (Ryan LeBaron), great grandson Asher; grandson David (Brenna Kelly), great grandchildren Clayton, Chase and Chloe; her daughter Darlene (Perry Kohli), grandsons Matthew and Sean; her sister Helen Czaplynsky and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Mary is predeceased by her loving husband of 57 years Nick Kozubniak who passed away in 2006; her parents, 7 brothers, 6 sisters, and son-in-law Robert Baldwinson.

Mary was born in Harrison Municipality and was raised on a farm near Erickson, Manitoba. After completing grade 8, Mary followed her older sisters to Winnipeg for a better life. In and around 1943 her sister helped Mary land her first job which was at Eaton’s in downtown Winnipeg. Early in 1948 Mary met the love of her life, Nick, at a church dance. A short courtship followed which led to their marriage later in November of that year. In early 1949, Mary and Nick took over Nick’s sister and brother-in-law’s restaurant business. This venture resulted in the two of them owning and operating five different small restaurants over the next 17 years. Seven years into the venture, they welcomed their first daughter Diane in April of 1956. Despite the additional responsibilities of parenthood, Mary and Nick continued running restaurant number 4 while raising their young daughter. In August 1964, they were blessed with their second daughter Darlene. After two more years of balancing business and family life, they decided to dedicate more time to their family which then brought the restaurant venture to a close in 1966. Following the closure of their last restaurant, Mary stayed at home full time to raise the girls.

Mary pursued a part-time job in the early ’70’s once both girls were in school. She found work for a few evenings a week at the Woolco store near their Elmwood home. Mary worked there until the early ’80’s before leaving to embark on a life of retirement with her husband once he retired in 1985.

Mary enjoyed many past times. Her and Nick enjoyed the outdoors and would take fishing trips in Manitoba and Ontario. Mary was a great fisher and would often catch more fish than Nick. They also enjoyed picking various berries and mushrooms from spots in Manitoba. Mary would later jar their bounty for the family to eat throughout the Winter and Spring. Mary and Nick liked going to the various rural Manitoba festivals; especially the Dauphin Ukrainian festival and the Manitoba Threshermen’s Reunion in Austin. Mary loved having a garden and tending to it with Nick. She made terrific tasting dill pickles and sweet mix pickles from the garden cucumbers. Mary was a good cook and she made the best pierogis, holubtsi and borscht soup. Mary also enjoyed playing card games with the friends her and Nick made at the Holy Eucharist church senior group as well as weekend card games with her sisters and brother-in-laws.

Mary lived a life close to God and she encouraged the same for both of her daughters. She regularly attended church services and tried her best to follow Ukrainian Catholic traditions. The 12 meatless dishes at Christmas and preparing Ukrainian food staples for the basket that would be blessed before Easter are traditions Mary felt were an important part to include at the holidays.

Above all, Mary loved her family. She was very proud of the accomplishments of her daughters and grandchildren and grateful for the promise she saw in her great grandchildren.

Thank you to the emergency urgent care doctors and nurses at Concordia Hospital for their care and compassion in Mary’s final days.

A funeral service will take place at 11:00 am Monday, December 30th at Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, 390 Marion St.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to CancerCare Manitoba.

We love you Mom

Vichnaya Pamyat