Obituary of ANN SCHWAKIN

ANN SCHWAKIN

June 23, 1924 – December 9, 2018

It is with great sadness, we announce the passing of Ann Schwakin, peacefully at the Misericordia Health Centre with her granddaughter Mona by her side.

Ann was born on June 23, 1924 in Kursk, Russia and grew up in a simple and hard farming life under communist rule.

In 1943, during the German invasion of the battle of Kursk, Ann escaped out of Russia and into Ukraine. It was in Kiev, Ukraine she met the love of her life Alex Schwakin. 

They both travelled to Belgium and started their new free life together.

They immigrated to Canada on the advice of a friend and settled in Winnipeg. Both Alex and Ann carved out a life together in Winnipeg and created a warm and loving family raising their two children; Victor and Nina.

Ann was a devoted and loving mother/grandmother (Baba).  She was very proud of her family.  Ann loved holidays and family get-togethers; any chance to spend time with her family was important to her.  She would spend hours cooking and preparing for her company.

She valued her friends at Ivan Franko Manor and truly enjoyed simple pleasures like going out for dinner and scenic car rides. She also revelled in the fun of occasional casino trips.

Ann was known for her feisty, yet good sense of humor.  She will be missed by all that knew and loved her.

Ann was the beloved wife of the late Alex Schwakin, devoted mother of Victor Schwakin and the late Nina Hill (the late Robert Hill), loving "Baba" of Mona (Rob) and their son Ryan O’Neill; Kyle Gibson; Kolby Gibson and his daughter Octavia Greloch; Melissa (Mike) and their son Kody Haywood; David Schwakin (Eastlyn Phipps) and their children Alex and Lily Phipps; Ashley Garand and her son Jaxon Garand.

The family would especially like to thank the nursing staff at Health Science Centre and Misericordia Health Centre, for their compassionate and loving care as well as the staff at Cancer Care for their constant, attentive care and treatment.

In Ann’s honour, say the words "I love you" often and with meaning to those you care about, and enjoy this beautiful season as she would have wanted you to.