My grandma Violet was my most favourite person. She died on the 13th and today I watched her funeral on my TV because I can't travel home. This was not the send-off she deserved, and I'd like to tell you a bit about how wonderful she was.

Grandma was born Vera Onufreicuic in 1924. Her parents were Romanian settlers from the village of Voloca (in present Ukraine). This 1925 pic of her is one of the only ones of the fam from this time, and always makes me laugh that she's on a chair in a snowy field without a coat.

Her parents, Nistru O. and Paulina Paulencu, were part of a larger group of settlers from Bukovina to settle at Lennard MB. Grandma grew up with these folks in a tight-knit community. Here she is at 5 yrs old in her mom’s arms. Her dad and younger sister are to her right.

She attended this school until the 8th grade. Here she learned English and the teacher changed her name from Vera to Violet because there were too many Veras. Even with her limited formal education, I knew Grandma Violet as an avid reader and a lifelong learner.

Grandma was the oldest of ten kids. I always assumed she left school for childcare duties but I recently learned that the she performed manual labour on the farm with her dad. She remained close with her siblings and I grew up with many involved great aunts and uncles.

She married my Grandpa Paul in 1946. He was also the child of Bukovina settlers, but he was Ukrainian. This was apparently a bit of a controversy but Grandma fully embraced Ukrainian traditions, including my Grandpa’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church of which my fam remains a part.

One year Grandma convinced Grandpa to move to Toronto for winter work. Grandma worked at the Campbell’s Soup Factory and loved telling me stories of her time in the big city. These photos are at their going away party before coming back to Manitoba to farm.

My grandparents farmed together in Lennard until 1985. They had 3 kids (my mom came later when Grandma was 43). She was a committed community member, milked cows and sold cream, raised chickens, and grew a huge garden. She continued to grow the best garden well into her 90s.

She was the best grandma. Our #1 Ukrainian dance and sports fan, and a house to run away to when our parents made us mad. She unashamedly spoiled us and her giant heart somehow made us all feel like we had the closest relationship with her (we all think we were her favourite).

She showed her love with food – perogies, cabbage rolls, soups, buns, and kolach (braided bread). Visitors never left her house without candies or fresh baking or canned goods. Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa’s was the best day of the year.

My grandparents were an ideal pair. He was quiet and gentle and she was outgoing and assertive. They loved their family, friends, and neighbours fiercely and opened their home to all. After 70 yrs together, his death in 2017 took a part of her too.

She lived to 96 yet it still felt like a shock b/c she was so vibrant well into her 90s. She insisted she was never old enough to be called Baba or to go to seniors events in town. In the last couple yrs Alzheimer’s slowed her down but it hadn't yet taken away her wonderful self.

Last summer my partner and I moved home and helped care for Gram. She taught us how to plant her garden and told us so many stories. In the last few years she lost her filter and it’s been the best. She’s witty and hilarious and I’m so so thankful for that summer.

This was one of the last times we talked. I’m devastated I can’t be home and be a cross bearer at internment because I know that mattered to her. I wish I could be with my mom and grieve the loss of her mom. Thanks for reading about my grandma. Memory eternal, Вічная Пам’ять.