Obituary of NETTIE (ANASTASIA) DRATWA

NETTIE (ANASTASIA) DRATWA

(NEE PENYK)

Nettie (Anastasia) Dratwa (nee Penyk), a kind and beautiful soul, passed away on December 12, 2018.

Nettie was born on January 9, 1925 to George and Agatha Penyk in Winnipeg and was the second youngest of seven children.  Nettie was a caring person who found good in everyone and treated everyone with kindness and respect. 

While working at the Canadian Wheat Board she met her late husband, Louis (Lou).  Mom and Dad were married in 1953, and lived most of their married life in Transcona on Cloverdale Crescent.  Neighbours Bernice & Jack Herd and Rita & Peter Frejuk became special friends.  Mom and Dad enjoyed sitting outside on the patio enjoying a cup of coffee and some laughs.  Gardening was her passion and almost every inch of her yard had flowers or perennials.  She was a member of the Transcona Horticultural Society for many years and enjoyed entering cut flowers, arrangements, and vegetables in the annual flower show.  Nettie moved to Nanaimo in 1988 to be close to her grandson Ben and her daughter Donna.  A few years later she moved to Summerland in the sunny Okanagan, where her sister Anne had lived.  She enjoyed gardening even more because of the long growing season and abundant fruit trees—especially her favourite apricots.  Her apple tree with three varieties of apples was something to see. 

She moved back to Winnipeg in 1996 as she missed her other children and friends.  She found a cute house in Transcona on Harvard Avenue, where her next-door neighbour was Frank Schmidt.  Frank became Mom’s companion and special friend, and they shared many laughs, outings, and family events together. Meals with Frank were highlights--he spoiled her with his delicious soups and famous fish dishes and she in turn provided baking.  Nettie cherished her family and friends and enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren.  Her nieces, Carol and Linda and her nephew Doug held special places in her heart. 

Nettie was predeceased by her husband Louis (1979), her sisters Marie, Anne and Helen and her brothers John and Bill. 

She is survived by her children Donna (Ian), Cathy (Harry), Lisa and Mark (Lynne), grandchildren Jessica, Brendon, Ben, Nik, Branden.   The family wishes to thank her companion Frank for making our mother so happy.

 Nettie’s faith was important to her and she was a member of St. Joseph the Worker Church for decades.  Her family has many memories of her working in the “New and Nearly New” booth at the annual church bazaar with her friends, Bernice Herd and Janette Foot.  Thank-you to Joe Bourgeois for visiting our mother every week at Middlechurch with communion. The family wishes to thank the wonderful care workers and nursing staff at Middlechurch Home in West St Paul for their kindness and compassion--angels are real and they work at Middlechurch.  Thank-you also to Irene, who included Mom in many of the fun events that were held at Middlechurch. 

In keeping with Nettie’s wishes, cremation has taken place and a Memorial Mass celebrating her life will be held at St. Joseph the Worker Church located at 505 Brewster Street on Monday, December 17 at 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mom's memory to Siloam Mission or a charity of your choice.

Our hearts are filled with wonderful memories of this giving and beautiful woman.