Obituary of OLGA BOSWICK

OLGA BOSWICK passed peacefully on January 30, 2024 at Concordia Hospital.

On February 1, 1934 mom was born to John and Katherine Podolsky near Tolstoi, Manitoba. Unfortunately, a short time after her birth her father John passed away unexpectedly. Her mother Katherine was then blessed by the meeting of a fine young gentleman widower named William Stefanchuk who had a daughter of his own named June. Katherine and William were married which led to the expansion of the family with the arrival of a son Johnny and a daughter Mary a couple of years later creating a new branch for the Stefanchuk family. Mom was blessed to have two sets of relatives - Podolsky and Stefanchuk. She shared many wonderful stories about her cousins, aunties and uncles with her children and grandchildren.

A loving and caring daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, cousin, and niece she was always dedicated to family.

After moving to Winnipeg to continue her education after completing grade school in Tolstoi, she took pleasure in visiting her parents, family, and friends back in Tolstoi on weekends. At some point in or around the early 1950’s, she encountered a fine young gentleman from Winnipeg named John Boswick and, after a reasonable period of dating, they were married in Winnipeg on September 24, 1954.

They were blessed with two sons, Brian and Robert, in 1959 and 1962 respectively. Brian and Robert can recall attending many weddings and celebrations at the Tolstoi Hall in the ensuing years. In the latter 1960’s mom and dad purchased a cottage at Grand Beach, a location where they often had travelled to in previous years, renting a cottage for periods of time.

Mom and Dad enjoyed hosting many dinners during Easter and Christmas for family.

For many years mom was an active member of the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral and associated Ladies Auxiliary. During the time that her sons were attending Neil Campbell Elementary School she volunteered at the school’s library. She also worked part-time for Eaton’s, both in the silverware department and in data entry.

Subsequently she worked seasonally with Taxation Canada retiring around the same time as dad in 1991.

After first making a camping trip to Manitoba’s Riding Mountain National Park in 1970, in 1971 together as a family they travelled by car first on a (mostly camping) trip to the west coast and then on a (mostly motel) trip to the east coast in 1976. During the trip west they visited some of dad’s relatives, making stops in Vancouver, Victoria, and Terrace, BC as well as Jasper and Edmonton, AB. During the car trip east they visited some of mom’s relatives, making stops in Atikokan, ON to visit mom’s cousin Sophi Bates, London, ON to visit mom’s sister June Jacques, and Windsor, ON and Detroit, MI to visit Tkach family relatives, and, particularly, Mary Jones and family in Mt. Clements, MI. The two-week trip took them as far as Peggy’s Cove, NS.

In following years that such family trips did not occur, the family spent time during warm Manitoba summers at the cottage at Grand Beach.

Mom also travelled together with dad on occasion to various locations including Las Vegas (on several occasions), Calgary, and Hawaii. Mom and dad were blessed with the arrival of two grandsons, Daniel in 1994 and Benjamin in 1998.

Mom was predeceased by her husband John, father John Podolsky, mother and stepfather Katherine and William Stefanchuk, brother Johnny Stefanchuk, sister and brother-in-law Junie and Robert Jacques, father and mother-in-law Joseph and Anna, brother and sister-in-law Michael and Anne, brother and sister-in-law Jack and Mary Greaves, brother-in-law Walter Boswick, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. She is survived by sons Brian and Robert (Adele), grandsons Daniel and Ben, sister Mary Wegner, sister-in-law Elizabeth Stefanchuk, sister-in-law June Boswick, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Special thanks are directed by the family to Access River East and associated Homecare staff but especially to the staff of N3East at Concordia Hospital for the wonderful care and compassion given to Mom during her stay.

A funeral service will take place Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main Street, Winnipeg