GLADYS LYZUN

“I did it all, and I stood tall, I did it my way”.

In the early morning hours of July 21, Gladys finished her earthly journey.  We will miss her but are glad she is free, there is a great joyful reunion in heaven.

Gladys was born into a very close-knit family of ten. She was predeceased by her parents John and Ksenia; sisters, Mary (Bruce) Milne, Sophie (Peter) Klem, Anne (Stan) Trowbridge, Kay (Joseph) Desroches, and Olive (Steve) Adamchuk; as well as brothers, Pete (Helen), Harry, John (Anne), and Luke (Joyce). She is survived by her Winnipeg family, nieces, Sharon (Scott) Johnston, Johnna Keeler, Debbie Adamchuk (Tony Karpinsky), nephew Darryl Lyzun (Irene Leperre); and one sister-in-law Jackie. She is also survived by numerous other nieces and nephews, including great and great great. She considered all of her sibling’s families “her kids” and always referred to us as such.  

She had many fond memories of growing up in Stead Manitoba, her father was a section foreman for the railroad. She was never the kind to be left behind and was always with her sisters and brothers, wanting to take part in whatever they were doing.  In her childhood years she was very athletic and especially enjoyed playing baseball.  Her athleticism continued as she played badminton, golf and tennis in her adult years.  She often talked about how being the youngest girl she was left behind in the bed when her sisters snuck out the window to attend barn dances. She would lie there awake under the covers hoping her parents would not come in and find her alone and blame her for her missing sisters.

Being the ninth child of ten Gladys always had someone telling her what to do. This instilled in her a fierce independence, she always did things “her way”. At a time when traditional women’s roles included marriage and a family, that was not for Gladys. She volunteered for the army during the Korean war and was hoping to drive one of the big transport vehicles. She was very disappointed to learn her job was to serve coffee and donuts to the soldiers and chat with them.  

Gladys worked as a secretary and the position she retired from was at Investors Group. Throughout her life Gladys had several male companions but she was not the marrying kind. She lived with her parents when they moved to Winnipeg and bought a house in Elmwood, and when both of them passed she continued to live there until she moved to River Ridge assisted living facility in 2014.  Throughout her life Gladys travelled extensively and enjoyed cruising the best, she went on numerous cruises as well as trips to tropical locations and elsewhere. If anyone said “Gladys do you want to go….” That was all she needed to hear, she was in. She would travel to Ontario once or twice every year to visit family and she also loved taking trips down to Grand Forks or Fargo with her sister Olive.

In her early 60’s she wanted to join the computer age and bought herself a computer to keep mailing lists of all of her family and friends. She had endless patience for learning new things but occasionally had to call on her nephew-in-law Tony for assistance, and in kind she would treat to dinner out. She always told the server up front “and I get the bill”.  She did that when she took any of us out.  Gladys was beyond generous and loved to be able to treat us, it made her very happy.

In 2019 failing health and progressing dementia necessitated a move to Vista Park Lodge personal care home.  Her transition was not an easy one and she never really settled in.  The family would like to thank the staff at Vista Park Lodge for their care of Gladys and their continued contribution to excellence in health care. You are all very special people.

In accordance with Gladys’ wishes there will be no funeral service. A private family interment will be held at a later date. We shall so miss her; she was truly original. Honorary pallbearers will be four of her great nephews, Michael Johnston and Dylan, Garett and Jordan Adamchuk.  Should anyone wish, a donation in her memory to a charity of your choice or to any charity benefitting animals would be appreciated.

Gladys’ family kindly requests that friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour her memory by visiting her tribute page at EthicalDeathCare.com. A photo-biography, as well as memories and stories published by those who knew her are available there.

VICHNAYA PAMYAT

“I am standing on the seashore, a ship sails in the morning breeze and starts for the ocean. She is an object of beauty and I stand watching her till at last she fades on the horizon. She is gone. Gone from my sight is all. Just at that moment when she is gone, there are ones who are watching from the other shore and take up a glad shout “here she comes!!”

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ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

530 St. Mary Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

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