Obituary of ELINORE MARY HALAS

ELINORE MARY HALAS (NEE SMITH) April 5, 1921 – October 4, 2011 Reluctantly, surrounded by much love and affection, our feisty, funny, beautiful and courageous wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin and friend, Elinore Mary (Ellie) Halas, passed on at the age of 90 years young. Ellie grew up in the north end of Winnipeg where she had a joyful childhood filled with the love of her parents Constantine and Kay, siblings Florence and Bernard, Grandmother Katharina and her extended family on the Schmidt and Schroffel sides. Ellie attended St. Joseph's and later Holy Ghost Catholic schools, where she was an outstanding baseball pitcher, a talent she later parlayed in ten-pin bowling. Ellie grew into a strong, independent woman who worked a variety of jobs, including as a meat cutter during the war, and in the accounts office at Eatons. Ellie’s life changed dramatically in her early forties, when she came into our lives, marrying Ray Halas and "inheriting" his family of five kids. We, the children of Ellie’s cousin and dear friend Mary who had passed away suddenly and at too young of an age, were taken under Ellie’s wing at this time. We cannot adequately express our love and gratitude for the gifts and healing that Ellie brought into our lives. With a 'honka-beepa-ooga-ooga-fa-fa', Ellie painted our days with humor, gags, cheeky imitations, and an attitude that conveyed the message, "keep smiling." How we loved the tastes and smells of Ellie’s fleische pyrogies and fresh baking. How she loved those long days at Whytewold beach with Ray and her many hours-long solitary walks, where she nurtured her deep, contemplative side. Ellie challenged us in so many interesting ways. Mostly, she loved us to the core. From her kids to her grandkids and her precious nephews Grant, Remy, Brett and Paul, Ellie saw the best in all of us, cheering us on and reminding us (in a delightfully made-up, high-pitched voice) that "you can do it!" She made us strong. During Ellie’s final years, she faced her critical health challenges with the same tenacious positivity, graciousness, and good humor she showed throughout her life. We are deeply grateful for her example, her passion for life, and her love for us all. Ellie will be lovingly remembered by her husband Ray, and her children, grand- and great grandchildren: Ron (Denis, Katherine, Sami, Tanya, Gary, Cody, Jerzy, Jesse & Mac), Karen & Ken (Jonathan, Tim, Katrina, Darian & Darius), Fran & Tom (Jamie, Katie, Patrick, Quinn, James, Isabelle, Ben, Brynn & Blake), Joe & Deenie (Franklin & Stephen), and Joannie & Bob. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 8, 2011 at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Winnipeg, corner of Mountain and Andrews. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Elinore’s memory to a charity of your choice or to the homeless. "Eternity is in the present. Eternity is in the palm of the hand" (Thomas Merton).