One of the strongest women I have ever known, Elizabeth Hlady, passed away in her sleep at the age of 93 on October 20th, 2020. Although her loved ones were not able to be with her, they were with her in her heart, now and forever. 

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Elsie as she was known by all, was preceded in death by her husband Mike of 57 of years, her daughter Patricia and her son in law Ingram. She is lovingly remembered by her sons Allan and Kenny; their wives Janet and Karen; her grandchildren Susan, Kristin, Mark, Bradley, Michael, Sherri, Kathy and Andrew; her great grandchildren Emily, Kaitlyn, Remy, Cohen, Whitney, Nathan and Mathew along with so many other loving family members and friends.

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Elsie was the youngest of four children and she grew up in Tyndall Manitoba, where set met and married her husband Mike.  They raised their three children in Beausejour Manitoba and together they built a thriving ready-mix concrete business. Elsie not only raised her children and supported her community, she did the books for the business and drove a three-ton truck to Winnipeg, to pick up building supplies, backing the truck up seamlessly into the loading dock to the astonishment of the men loading the truck. She and Mike built and renovated many of the homes they lived in over the years and she was a consummate hostess, a renowned cook, baker, seamstress, gardener, there was never anything, Elsie couldn’t do! Grandma, we will always remember your perogies, holubsti, borsch, and pereshke.

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Throughout her life, Elsie welcomed family, extended relatives, and friends into her home and her heart. Her wonderful laughter and generous nature were unforgettable. She was an avid cribbage player, once actually getting the perfect hand in a tournament and as children we all learned to play her favorite card game, Big Bertha. She and Mike had homes in many places over the years including St. Petersburg Florida, Beausejour and Wannasing Beach and there were many trips to Disney World, Busch Gardens and the Kennedy Space Centre, with Grandma as our tour guide.

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Elsie traveled throughout Canada, the United States, Mexico and parts of the Caribbean with Mike and they met people from all walks of life.  She saw people for who they were, not for their colour, religion, what they had or where they came from. In an era when different was not as acceptable, she set an example for her children and grandchildren, by welcoming others, without bias or judgement. 

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In her later years, she returned to Beausejour and was a member of the Seniors Centre, acting as Treasurer for several years.  When she lost her husband Mike suddenly in 2000, she rallied her family bringing us even closer together, reminding us of the strength of love and the importance of family.  She celebrated weddings, births, holidays and many birthdays with us, always bringing so much joy to our lives.  Although we are deeply saddened by her passing, we are all blessed to have been a part of her journey, to learn, live and grow with her.  We will miss you more than words can express, we love you Grandma.

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We want to thank the staff at the West Park Manor Personal Care Home for the wonderful care they provided Elsie over the past five years.

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In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Alzheimer’s Association of Manitoba.

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A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.  For now, we would love you to share your memories of Elsie with us.