Obituary of FRANCISZKA (FRANCES) SZCZEPANIK

FRANCISZKA (FRANCES) SZCZEPANIK (nee Korzeniowska) April 12, 1929 – October 15, 2020 It is with deep sadness we announce the sudden passing of our dear Mama and Babcia, Frances Szczepanik, who had proudly reached the age of 91, at the Grace Hospital. Frances is loved and will be greatly missed by her daughter Rose (Peter Letkemann), son Andy (Audra), and grandsons Alerik and Aulden. Frances was predeceased by her husband Emil Leszek (Leslie) Szczepanik in 1975 and we take comfort in knowing they are together again. Frances was born in Trojca, Poland and experienced the war as a young girl where she was told by her parents that if they were ever separated, they were to meet at the church. During an air raid they did become separated, and Frances ran to the church for refuge. A bomb came through the roof and landed on the altar, but did not detonate. Frances remained a devout Christian all her life after surviving this experience. Frances and her husband Leslie immigrated to Canada in 1964 with their young family, making their life in Winnipeg. After Leslie passed, Frances worked as a Housekeeper at the Winnipeg Convention Centre for many years, providing for her family and making many close friends with her kindness, sense of humour and strong work ethic. She retired from the Convention Centre in 1994 to spend more time enjoying her friends, bingo and travelling. She loved to travel and saw much of the world with her daughter Rose. There was always a story to tell about Frances’ adventures on these trips, usually ending in tears of laughter around the dinner table. Frances could be more stubborn than a mule, but she was funny, generous, and a wonderful Babcia. Her greatest joy was seeing her grandsons who she called her “princes” and reading their homemade cards written to her in Polish (courtesy of Google translate). We will all miss her dearly. A private family service is being arranged. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Frances’ memory to The Heart & Stroke Foundation.