Obituary of FRANCES JENNY BARTESKI

With heavy hearts we bid farewell to our beloved mother, who after living a full 96 years passed away peacefully on August 3, 2023, at the Maples Personal Care Home. While Mom's departure leaves a void in our lives, we take comfort in knowing she is now reunited with her parents Dmytro and Caroline, and all her siblings Henry, Bill, Johnny, Sophie, and Carrie, who surely welcomed her with open arms.

She was predeceased by first husband Mike Twerdun; second husband Paul Barteski; son-in-law David Feuillatre and dear friend and companion Maurice Gagnon.

Mom was born in Winnipeg on October 22, 1926. She was raised in the close-knit community of Highland Glenn, Manitoba, where she cherished her roots and often visited for family gatherings which she always enjoyed dearly. Not much is known about mom’s early childhood because the early family pictures were destroyed in a house fire. Mom used to enjoy telling us stories about life in the good old days. She had such a way of capturing your interest it seemed you could listen to her stories for hours on end.

After moving to Winnipeg, she got a job as a waitress in a restaurant on Main Street. The boss was apparently quite happy with all the returning customers until he found out mom was overfilling the jelly donuts! When she was 20 years old, she met and married her first husband, Mike, with who she had five children: Brian (Sylvia), Sylvia (Dave), Janet (Gary), Roger (Helena), and Brenda (Gary). Family was the cornerstone of Mom's life, and she took immense pride in nurturing her children, a fact she happily shared at every opportunity. When she was frequently asked in the care home how she kept so young she would reply “it’s because I had 5 children!" Mom was quite skilled at handling 5 children, and anything life would throw at her. She always seemed to know the right thing to say in giving advice or comforting. Mom was incredibly resilient overcoming separate bouts of cancer and numerous life challenges.

Her dedication to family extended to her role as a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, with 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren who brought her endless pride and joy to her life. Additionally, she cherished her numerous nieces and nephews, leaving behind a legacy of unconditional love that will endure for generations.

Everyone who had the privilege of knowing Mom adored her. Her vibrant smile would light up any room, and she had a heart full of warmth and kindness for all who crossed her path. Mom loved to socialize. She looked forward to putting on her next new outfit and going dancing.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate staff at the Maples Personal Care Home for their exceptional care during Mom's seven-year residence.

We will forever cherish the love and memories Mom gifted us, and though we feel the weight of her absence, we find comfort in the knowledge that she is now our beloved angel, watching over us from above.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to the ALS Society of Manitoba, 1717 Dublin Avenue, #2A, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3H 0H2, a cause close to Mom's heart.

Funeral service will be held on Thursday, August 10, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main Street.  Interment will take place, Saturday, August 12, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic Cemetery in Garson, Manitoba.

Mom, you remain forever in our hearts. We love you, miss you, and thank you for the cherished moments we shared. Until we meet again.