ORMA EUGENE SOZANSKY

Orma died after sustaining a head injury one week short of her 93rd birthday.  She was ready to go and reminded us of this often.  

Orma was predeceased by her husband Eric, siblings Edna Stewart and Russell Irvine as well as dogs Trig, Rover, and Binks.  She is survived by her daughters, Peggy (Tom Arbek d. 2010,) Deidre (Malcolm Crooks), Adrien, and Norma.  Granny will always be loved and remembered by her grandchildren Eric and Sheilagh Crooks.  Orma is also survived by her brother Stuart Irvine and many nieces, nephews, and their families.

Mom was born on the Irvine family farm in Mill Creek, Manitoba to Richmond and Elsie Irvine.  She attended the Mill Creek one room country school and then Oakville High School.  Orma received her teaching credentials from the Manitoba Normal School in Winnipeg.  She taught early grades in Lakelet, Clanwilliam, Dominion City and Camp Shilo where she made many life-long friendships.  Orma met Eric while both were teaching in Dominion City.  They married August 22, 1955 and settled in Winnipeg.  Eric died June 4, 1985, leaving Orma a widow for 39 years.

In the early 1960’s, Mom and Dad moved from their starter home on Winterton Avenue to a home they built on Moray Street in St. James.  To qualify for purchasing the building lot you had to reside in St. James.  It took some determination but Orma convinced the City to sell them a lot since Eric was teaching at St. James Collegiate.

As a child of the great depression, Mom was forever frugal, an excellent seamstress, maintenance woman, and reuser/recycler.  She considered herself a rotten cook but this could be disputed especially when it came to baking – pies, squares and cookies were her domain.  In her later years she was happy to wear hand me ups from her daughters.

Mom was a fitness buff and she had us doing the military 5BX program when we came home from school.  She swam at the St. James YMCA and Centennial Pool and for many years was a member of the St. James Elderobics group where she kept fit and enjoyed many friendships.

Orma was prairie farm girl who had a passion for the Canadian Rockies.  Annual summer camping trips were highlighted by hiking, hot springs, picnic lunches, campfires and hopefully bears.  She loved the mountains but as her daughters started working summer jobs, they bought a cottage at Royal Lake.  They spent many happy summers there enjoying lake life and all the projects that go along with that.

Mom was the family photographer – slides were her medium of choice but she did progress to digital.  She took evening courses and used her new skills in photographing old documents for her family tree.  Mom also became proficient on her computer and enjoyed emailing, making comments on Facebook, and forwarding jokes.

Orma always kept busy.  She always enjoyed babysitting Eric and Sheilagh.  She took a home electrical course and fixed small appliances often lamenting how parts weren’t available and everything now is just built to throw away.    She enjoyed puzzles, reading and re-reading books and veterinarian shows on TV.  Orma volunteered for many years with the Manitoba Genealogical Society.

Orma was well versed on many subjects and used to say she got her degree listening to the CBC.  Mom loved to read; a passion started early in her marriage when dad would bring books home from his school library.  

She enjoyed and read everything by Peter C. Newman, particularly his passage referencing prairie homesteaders, “that a hard day’s work well done was the only path to salvation”.  She thought this described her parents but in fact it described her.

Orma was a member of the NDP.  She attended many provincial councils and worked on several election campaigns.  She was a hard-working volunteer and enjoyed the issues and debates.  She had many friends in the NDP and was very fond of Jim Rondeau, his partner Dennis Tam and their dog Daisy. They continued to include mom in there lives long after Jim left politics and mom certainly appreciated that.

With two daughters and a brother in Southern Ontario, Mom visited often and always brought her work clothes to help with chores so she could earn her keep.  Mom also travelled to Alaska, China, Cuba, the United Kingdom an did a river cruise from Budapest to Prague.  She camped along the Pacific Coast Highway in California and along the eastern seaboard visiting the New England states and Nova Scotia.  The camping trips were all with Adrien and mom often praised her map reading ability when recounting their trips.

The house at 800 School Road was her home for over 40 years.  Its southwest exposure helped to produce bountiful tomatoes and the large driveway and proximity to the traffic on Ness Avenue made it a prime location for her many garage sales.  Mom would organize, clean and price all the goods and had great fun negotiating with the customers.  Mom had wonderful neighbours throughout the years.

In early 2016, Mom broke her ankle while inspecting bridge construction near her house.  She required surgery and was house bound for several months.  

Norma stepped up as mom’s main helper, attending appointments to make sure mom heard what the doctor told her she couldn’t do.  As mom’s main companion she had the privilege of hearing the details of mom’s personal history, particularly the early years. 

In August 2022, at age 91, Mom moved into the Metropolitan Kiwanis Courts.  She was very pleased with the move and loved the meals, exercise classes and meeting the other residents. Her only complaint was the outdoor parking.  She drove until September 2023 when she “loaned” her car to Sheilagh for school.

Cremation has taken place and at Orma’s request, there will be no service. 

If so desired, please consider donating to one of the organizations she supported such as the Winnipeg Humane Society or the David Suzuki Foundation or an organization of your choosing.

Orma’s 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.

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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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