Obituary of MARY DIDUCK

On Thursday, August 15, 2019, after a six year battle with cancer, Mary Diduck, aged 91 years, of Winnipeg, MB, passed into the presence of her Lord.

Mary was predeceased by her husband of 66 years, William, 2014, and her father Micheal, and mother Natalia Syrnyk. Mary will be greatly missed by her daughter Carol and her husband Dr. Oscar Olson of Ohio, USA, and two granddaughters, Kristin of Winnipeg and Helga of Minnesota, USA; son Ryan and his wife Janice and granddaughter Sydney of Winnipeg.

Mary was born on February 5, 1928 in Winnipeg and grew up in the North End where she spent almost her entire life. Growing up she went to St Nicholas School and attended St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church where she would later marry William. Mary enjoyed sports, often being found between 2^nd and 3^rd base as a softball shortstop. Baseball was her favourite sport and she would always watch the World Series often rooting for the underdog. She also bowled and curled in leagues and had numerous championship trophies to show for it. But it was the social aspect of sport that called to her, as her true love was spending time with people.

This desire to socialize led Mary to one of her first jobs that she would speak of often later in life. At the age of 16 she and her close friend Olga worked concessions on the boardwalk at Winnipeg Beach for the summer. Once her daughter Carol started attending elementary school Mary started working at Woolworths on Selkirk Avenue where she really enjoyed helping the seniors of the neighborhood with their purchases together with the relationships she developed with her coworkers. So much so that by Sundays she could hardly wait to go back to work on Monday and she would work there for nearly 40 years until she retired.

After they were married, Mary and William would always be out with family and friends often at the German Club. It was there that Mary’s inner dancer came out. Regularly, you would find Mary and her good friend (and cousin) Violet jiving together and were so good that they would cause everyone else to just stop and watch them. Mary would even take her dance skills to the roller rink and do moves in roller skates that many would find difficult in regular shoes.

Mary’s other passion was movies, especially if they featured her favourite actors Clark Gable, Errol Flynn or Robert Taylor. She would make movie night an event with popcorn and red licorice, and of course there would be a stop at the Chocolate Shoppe afterwards. She would pass her addiction to chocolate on to her children. Speaking of addictions, her other weakness was shopping, especially shoes and purses!

23 years after having Carol, Mary gave birth to her second child Ryan. Once he was old enough she would discover a new joy, traveling as a family. Rail journeys to BC, flights to Florida, or cruises in the Caribbean, she quickly found her favourite – Hawaii and was fortunate enough to visit several times.

Later in life, Mary and William needed to become less social as they cared for their aging parents and instead resumed their routine of going for long walks. They would walk together almost daily whether with their dogs or just by themselves. They would continue walking together as long as they were able, even in their early 80’s they would still walk to Garden City Shopping Centre from their home on Boyd Avenue.

Mary was diagnosed with cancer in 2013 and after William’s passing in 2014, she moved to The Waverly assisted living residents. It was here that the social butterfly in her re-emerged as she quickly made friends with all the ladies including her very good friend and “older sister” Audrey. Together they attend the various events and activities and would go on all the bus trip excursions. At The Waverly, Mary would rediscover her love of music, joining the Warblers a choir group that would get together weekly, and she and Audrey would attend the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra’s Pops concerts on Sunday afternoons.

In the last several months her cancer forced her to give up her new home for someplace that could provide more care. Fortunately, she finally arrived at Riverview Health Centre where she loved spending time in the garden or attending the musical performance. She was loved by everyone she met there always offering a big smile and a hug right to her final days.

Mom always remembered the one thing that many of us often forget – “if you’re nice to others, they will be nice to you!”

The family wishes to thank the nurses and support staff of 3 West at Riverview for their incredible care as well as the staff at The Waverly for making mom’s last years so enjoyable.

Prayers will be said on Sunday, August 18 at 5:00 p.m. at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main Street. A Funeral Service will be held on Monday, August 19 at 10:00 a.m. also at the Chapel. Interment to follow in Brookside Cemetery.