LORI MERASTY

April 25, 1963 – December 8, 2021

It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of our dearly beloved mother, wife, sister, and friend, Lori Merasty. She passed away on the evening of December 8th, 2021, with her family by her side at Saint Boniface hospital. 

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Lori was born on April 25th, 1963, in Montreal, Quebec to Shirley and John Meronek. Her parents moved their family to Winnipeg in 1965. 

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Lori was a lifelong educator, with a passionate heart. After earning her Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba, she began working with Frontier School Division in Brochet, Manitoba, where she taught for over a decade. She was welcomed as a member of the community, and it is there she met Gary Merasty, her husband of 34 years. She was an avid volunteer in Brochet, and received a Community Service Award for her work. After moving back to Winnipeg, she continued working as a resource teacher and earned her Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in 2006. She finished her career as a reading recovery teacher in the Pembina Trails School Division.
 

Lori’s love extended to all her animals, and even as a child, she was rescuing strays. She loved camping and spending time outdoors, often accompanying her husband on trips to northern Manitoba. She was a longtime volunteer of the Winnipeg Folk Festival, helping out on the Used Record Sale, Folk Exchange and the Hear All Year crews. She enjoyed doing yoga with the ladies, watching the Blue Bombers and the Winnipeg Jets games, and thrifting at the MCC Kildonan Thrift Shop. She loved her friends, and was always excited to go out and see them. She continued to meet with her Survivors group for many years.
 

She remained strong and optimistic throughout her life, determined to enjoy the bright side of every single day, and she is remembered for her beaming smile. She leaves behind her husband Gary; daughters Megan and Robin; sisters Susan Ziemski (Alan), and Barbara Meronek (Donna); brother Dan Meronek; nephews Rowan and Kalem; and her dog, Jersey. She was predeceased by her cat, Niso.
 

Her family plans to hold a celebration of life at a later date in the spring. In the meantime, the family kindly requests that all of her friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour her memory by watching the photo-biography above. Please, also consider sharing your own photos, memories, and stories by making use of the comment section on this page.

 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Canadian Diabetes Association, or the Kidney Foundation of Canada.