Olga Lupkowski (nee Krawec)
Peacefully on June 18, 2024, at the age of 86, mom passed away at the Portage and District General Hospital.
Mom was born on May 3, 1938, at Weiden, Manitoba, in the Rorketon area to Michael Krawec and Michaelina (Chornoboy). She was one of eighteen children. Mom worked hard all her life on the farm, with her first paying job as a substitute teacher for 5 days to 40 students in grades 1 through 8. This was done to ensure the school was open for the required 200 days to receive their grant, as the regular teacher was stormbound. Although there were other jobs after this, Olga found her niche in healthcare; first as a nurses aide at Central Park Lodge #2, then a pharmacy technician at Grace Hospital, then at Central Park Lodge #1 as the Executive Housekeeper, and finally at Fairview Home in Brandon where she retired in 1999 after seventeen years as Supervisor of Environmental Services.
Mom married Frank Lupkowski on August 2, 1958 and they welcomed Cindy in 1959 and Jerry in 1961.
Their honeymoon in Bemidji was the first-time mom ever left Canada. There were road/rail trips to visit relatives in 60’s through 80’s. In 2000, mom became an integral part of the Lupkowski family travel plans. Mom enjoyed the trips to the Dominican Republic, Nova Scotia (her favourite trip), Puerto Vallarta (11 times), San Diego, Sayulita, Playa Del Carman, Nuevo Vallarta, Disney World, Paris France, and numerous trips to Thief River Falls, Wisconsin Dells, and Minneapolis. Her travels only stopped due to health.
Mom (Baba) was there for her family. She gave her time to babysitting, cooked and cleaned up after many celebratory events, chauffeured grandchildren, provided an endless supply of homemade cookies, muffins, perogies, beet leaf buns, holopchis, mushroom gravy, etc., and was always there to pick up the pieces when things went wrong.
She is survived by her children Cindy Nachtigall and Jerry (Carole); grandchildren Jody Nachtigall, Jaysa (Travis Toet), Kylee Nachtigall, Tessa and Carter Lupkowski; great grandchildren Rowan Armstrong, Hayden and Lylah Toet; brothers Sam and Alex, as well as sister-in-laws and many nieces and nephews.
Thank you to those who showed kindness and compassion during mom’s stay at Lions Prairie Manor and Portage and District General Hospital.
At Mom’s request, cremation has taken place and a memorial mass will be held on Saturday, July 13 at 2:00 pm at McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel. A private interment will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, Sunset Palliative Care or to a charity of one’s choice.
A tree will be planted in memory and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel.