Contributions to the tribute of Gladys Lozowy

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Karen Lisoway posted a condolence

Saturday, March 11, 2023

I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting Gladys until 1987. It didn’t take me long to see what a firecracker she was. She was so strong and so determined, never afraid to tackle anyone or anything. Joyce, Gladys’ sister, shared a memory of hers with me that just highlights Gladys’ spirit, Joyce said that her and Gladys had once dragged baby Ken to the very top of a thatched roof barn, which of course gave their mother a near heart attack when she saw them.” Gladys was only about 5 years old at the time. It’s that type of fearlessness that helped Gladys achieve everything she did in her life. In her younger days she was quite the athlete winning ribbon after ribbon at her school’s track and field meets. To this day she has those ribbons displayed in her house. She was so proud of them. She was an avid gardener, and always had a huge garden with beets, cucumbers, peas, radishes, potatoes, dill the list goes on. She harvested and canned or froze her crop for the winter along with Saskatoons and Raspberries. Her pickles were the best and she was always willing to send you home with a jar. As if tending to that big garden wasn’t enough she always had an ample supply of flowers around the yard. You would always see something blooming so long as mother nature cooperated. She also made use of Alberta’s natural produce. I have fond memories of going out with her to hunt for mushrooms. We’d get back and wash them up then she’d prepare them with cream. Those were the best mushrooms ever. If a dandelion ever popped it’s head on her lawn she was right on it. She did not like those dandelions. Gladys spent most of her working years at IGA, eventually working her way up as the produce manager and retiring in 1998. Fridays were hair day. She had her hair done every Friday. Even after her retirement she continued this routine and never faltered from it. Friday was her day to go into town, get her hair done and buy groceries. Every afternoon she watched her “Stories” with the Young and Restless being her favourite. She was an avid curling fan, watching and cheering on her favourite team at every televised event. Joyce, sent me another memory that she has held dear to her heart. Joyce said that years ago, when they were “yunguns”, they sometimes stayed with relatives in Lavoy. One day, they ended up playing in a school mate’s yard, when this young girl decided she didn’t want Joyce to be there, but it was OK for Gladys to stay. As Joyce left, walking back by herself with tears in her eyes, she heard footsteps behind her. It was Gladys! Gladys said if Joyce couldn’t be in that yard, she didn’t want to be there either! Joyce loved her for that! She said that Gladys played the big sister role so well! Gladys spoke often and warmly about all her family. Her sisters and brother, her kids and her grandchildren. How proud she was of the things that they accomplished. How much she loved all her grandchildren. She was so proud of the fact that she was part of a celebration that included 5 generations of family and she often spoke of how lucky she was to have all this family around her. She never missed a birthday or an anniversary because she was always thinking of others and she never missed a chance to gather everyone together. Joyce was particularly touched by Gladys’ devotion to her family as when Joyce’s husband, Lou, passed away, Gladys took the time to travel to Prince George and give her the support she needed, even though, Gladys, herself had just gone thru cancer treatment. That was how she lived her life, always thinking of others. Bridget, Gladys’ granddaughter remembers her being so patient with all the grandkids. Bridget says “Baba always had a special spot and special patience in her heart for her grandkids. When the grandkids were little and spent time at the farm, as with all kids there were 1,000 questions that came up. “Baba – why is the sky blue?” “Baba – why do cats purr?” “Baba – why do chickens do that?” Baba? Baba? Baba? Baba always had an answer, except for one question… “Baba – why is your hair purple?” They quickly learned not to ask that question. The lack of response and the look in her eye was more than enough. But they always bragged that they had the coolest Baba in town. The only Baba who dyed her hair purple.” When my son Mark was two years old he stayed with “Baba” on the farm while John and I were away. He ended up in the hospital with a bad cold that had progressed into pneumonia. Baba refused to leave his side even after the hospital’s insistence that she couldn’t stay, she simply would not leave. She spent three full days by Mark’s beside until he was well enough to return home. Her reasoning? He needed family by his side, someone to read to him and keep him company. As I was speaking with family members and reminiscing about Gladys there was one strong theme. Everyone, and I mean Everyone, loved her cooking and oh, how Gladys loved to cook for them. It was always a treat to visit her, because no matter how much notice you gave her, she always had a meal with your favourite Ukrainian dishes. - perohy, holubtsi, nalysnyky, perishky and the list goes on. It seems like she could whip up a four-course meal in a half hour and she always made it look so easy. It was practically impossible to go to her house and not leave absolutely stuffed. Everything was so good and she made sure you ate! Her freezers were always well stocked because when she baked she didn’t bake a dozen donuts she baked 40 dozen with the intent of handing out the extras. Gladys was a very spiritual person who had faith in the Lord and prayer was a big part of her life. She regularly attended church in both Vegreville and Plain Lake and was a member of the Ladies League in Plain Lake. No matter the weather or how she was feeling she had to prepare a basket to be blessed for Easter. Christmas and Easter were special holidays for her. Special because she could rejoice in the Lord and share the celebration with all her family and because she could prepare all those dishes that she knew we loved. She had an uncanny ability to fit 20 people around a table that was meant for 10. We all squeezed in and talked and laughed and ate until our stomachs burst. At Christmas she loved it when everyone would sing Christmas carols. The most special ones being traditional songs sang in Ukrainian. It wasn’t an option for you not to sing, everyone had to and we always ended the evening with the 12 days of Christmas. That particular song will always take me back to that table of 20 people and all the fond memories that go with it. My own mother passed away 21 years ago and Gladys was quick to do her best to fill that void in my life, offering to look after my kids, giving advice when they were sick, advice on how to handle a rambunctious little boy. As I was new mother with two young boys at the time I always appreciated having someone to go to. Gladys, we will all miss you dearly. You will forever live on in our hearts until we meet again.

A Memorial Tree was planted for Gladys Lozowy

Friday, December 2, 2022

We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Autumn Rose Funeral Home Join in honoring their life - plant a memorial tree

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The family of Gladys Lozowy uploaded a photo

Friday, December 2, 2022

In loving memory of

Gladys

1939 - 2022

Plant a tree in memory of Gladys