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Obituary of SHIRLEY ANN RURAK (nee. Popowich)
The family of Shirley Rurak (nee Popowich) announces with deep sorrow of her sudden passing on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, at the age of 76.
Shirley was the second oldest child born and raised on a small farm six miles south of Buchanan, Saskatchewan. In 1959, the family moved to Yorkton where she attended school at Angus Spice Elementary then later Yorkton Collegiate taking a bookkeeping and secretary course. She met her husband Merv who played in her brother’s polka band. They were married on May 20, 1967 at Yorkton United Church and were blessed with two girls Tammy and Shawna shortly after. Merv passed away August 31,2014. They were married for 47 years.
The family moved to Winnipeg, MB in 1970 then built a home in Warren, MB in 1982.
Shirley started working evenings at CP Express and Transport in the billing department in 1975 having various jobs throughout the years until she retired in 1994. She decided to go back into the workforce and started a new career as an administrative assistant at Neil Bardal Funeral Home 2008-2013 then her last years working at Cropo Funeral Chapel until 2018 making many friends along the way.
Shirley had many hobbies and interests throughout the years. She enjoyed watching Merv’s fastball games on the weekends. Merv and Shirley curled in a league with her sister and brother-in-law Diane and Clarence. She also enjoyed ceramics (winning awards) and cake decorating in her early years.
Saturday evenings were always with friends and family playing cards, shuffleboard and crokinole to name a few.
She played slow pitch with her family and colleagues for CP Express and Transport.
Shirley had a passion for gardening, cooking/baking, house plants, crochet, collecting recipes, word search, catching up with friends and family and listening to music. She took great pride in taking care of the yard and gardens. It was a big job after Merv passed away but she somehow always got it done. There were beautiful flowers in her planters she meticulously chose every year along with her geraniums that were well taken care of year after year. And she knew all the tricks to growing tomatoes that weighed over a pound.
We looked forward to gathering on the holidays at home. Mom perfected the 12 traditional Ukrainian dishes for Christmas Eve which she started cooking and baking into the late nights a month before. Many of the dishes have been handed down from generations. Her perogies were sought after.
Everyone was well fed by her amazing cooking and baking.
The kitchen was the heart of the home. Everyone would gather to help mom with the big meals while she cooked or just to sit around the table and talk, tell jokes and play games.
Family was very important to her. She would not miss a birthday or an important event. The grandchildren and great grandchildren filled her heart with so much joy. She spent many hours crocheting each of them their own blankets with their chosen colours. They all looked forward to spending the night with Grandma Shirley. All were well fed and hugged and kissed by her countless times with a book picked out to be read before bedtime.
Shirley was also blessed with amazing neighbors that were always there to help her after Merv passed away. From neighbors they became friends/family.
We admire and appreciate all she has done for us. Mom, Grandma was always there when we needed her help. This was her way of showing how much she loved us. We will cherish the times we had with Mom, Grandma. We love her so much and she will forever be missed.
We would like to thank the staff at Stonewall Regional Hospital for their care and support.
In lieu of flowers, should friends and family desire, donations may be made in Shirley’s memory to the Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal – Heal Health Centers at https://give.redcross.ca/page/UHCA or support displaced Ukrainians arriving in Canada at https://ukrainesafehaven.ca/
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 21 at 10:00 a.m. at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main Street with viewing commencing at 9:30 a.m.
Memories in the Heart
Feel no guilt in laughter, she knows how much you care
Feel no sorrow in a smile that she’s not here to share.
You cannot grieve forever, she would not want you to.
She’d hoped you could carry on, the way you always do.
So talk about the good times and the way you showed you cared
The days you spent together, all the happiness you shared.
Let memories surround you,
A word someone may say
Will suddenly recapture a time, an hour, a day
That brings her back as clearly as though she was here
And fills you with the feelings that she is always near
For if you keep these moments, you will never be apart
And she will live forever, locked safely within your heart
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