KARYN DEBBRA LYNNE HOLLAND

Karyn Debbra Lynne Holland, aged 60, passed away from a sudden stroke on May 12, 2026, following—and despite having overcome—a years-long battle with cancer. 

Karyn was born on March 22, 1966, in Swan River, Manitoba, the second of two children born to Reuben and Jean (Trofimchuk) Holland. 

The day she arrived, Manitoba was in the grips of an unusually large snowstorm—one so intense that snowdrifts in some areas rose nearly to the tops of telephone poles. On Reuben and Jean’s farm, a quarter mile off the main road, the drifts reached almost to the eaves of the house. When Jean went into labour and the road still hadn’t been plowed, Uncle Irwin rode in on a snowmobile to bring her out to the main road, where she was taken to the hospital and Karyn was born. 

Her childhood was divided between Minitonas and Victoria, where her family’s bee keeping business required them to move with the seasons. She eventually made her home in Winnipeg, where she built a long and dedicated career with Prairie Research Associates. Above all, Karyn will be remembered for her kindness, her bright and mischievous humour, her endless curiosity, her unwavering ability to show up for people, and the remarkable resilience that carried her through even the hardest moments. 

Victoria held a special place in her heart—its vibrant gardens and calm coastal life became a place she loved deeply—and she often spoke of her hope to one day retire there. She found joy in simple pleasures: thrift shopping, British television, a wide range of music, cooking for and spending time with friends and family. 

Karyn had an immense love for her family. She is survived by her brother, Kevin Holland. She is also survived by her uncle and aunt, Jim and Vivian (Trofimchuk) English; her uncles Jerry Trofimchuk and Danny Trofimchuk; her aunt May Hough; and her uncle Irwin Schroeder. She is further survived by her cousins Greg and Marla (Schroeder) Williamson; Daniel and Lorilee (Schroeder) Penner and their children Hailey, Olivia, and Jaden; and Ben and Jennifer (English) Crowe and their children Teagan and Owen. Karyn was preceded in death by her parents, as well as her grandparents Emil and Boumila Holland and Andrew and Sylvia Trofimchuk; her uncle Mike Trofimchuk; and her aunt Ruth (Trofimchuk) Schroeder. She will also be deeply missed by many friends who held a special place in her life. 

The last years of Karyn’s life were marked by the challenges of her cancer diagnosis and treatment, yet she faced them with remarkable strength. Despite the hardships she encountered throughout her life, she managed to maintain her sense of humour, her compassion for others, and her love of people. 

Gone too soon, she leaves behind a legacy of kindness and strength, and will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who knew and loved her.

 In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, or the Winnipeg Humane Society.

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