Obituary of MARGARET ANN PIDLASKI

MARGARET ANN PIDLASKI Margaret Ann Pidlaski died December 23, 2011, near Cusco, Peru. She was predeceased by her parents Bill and Hilda Pidlaski. She will be missed forever by her sister, Patricia (Ted Stone), her brother, Greg (Pat Melnyk), her nieces, Laura, Karyn, Christina, and Heather, her nephew Ben, and her many cousins and friends. Margaret was born in St. Boniface in 1954. She attended Springfield Elementary School and River East Collegiate. In 1982, she graduated from the University of Winnipeg and later completed several post-graduate courses in language education. She taught English as an additional language in Winnipeg and China before becoming the director of adult language training programs for the Manitoba government. In this role, she became a leader in language education in Canada. Margaret brought enthusiasm to everything she did and purposely chose the life she lived, going into a challenging and interesting profession, making lifelong friends, staying close to family members and creating a busy social life. She cared about others, strangers or friends. She was a devoted daughter and loving sister who adored her nieces and nephew. She was always ready to laugh and enjoy life. She attended all sorts of cultural events, but had a special love for theatre and music. She was a courageous traveller, on five continents, who went looking for distant relatives in Poland, crossed Russia on the Trans-Siberian Railroad and once tried to sneak into Tibet in the back of a three-ton truck. She had a good time at anything she did. A memorial in celebration of her life will be held on Tuesday, January 10, 2012, at 2:30 p.m. at the Centro Caboto Centre, 1055 Wilkes Avenue. It will be immediately followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the Margaret Pidlaski Scholarship fund at any branch of the Assiniboine Credit Union.