Stella Lucas (Olishewski), age 97, a resident of Thunder Bay, passed away peacefully on Thursday November 9, 2017. We honoured her wish for her to die at home surrounded by family.
Born in Savanne, Ontario on February 19, 1920, she was raised in Fort William, Ontario as one of eight Olishewski children and attended the local public and secondary schools. She married Michael Lucas on September 21, 1940. During WWII, shortly after the birth of their first child, Mikelene (Mickey) Dad left in 1942 to serve his country overseas. While Dad was away at war, mom contributed too and did her part for the war effort by working at Canada Car building airplanes. She was a member of the Ukrainian Prosvita Society-Women’s Auxiliary for many years. In her earlier healthier years, she enjoyed bowling, knitting fishing, camping and attending to her flower gardens and rose bushes. But her home and family were always her main interest. Mom was well known for her cooking and baking skills, be it perogies, cabbage rolls, butter tarts, chocolate chip cookies, pies and shortbread. It was a special gift for her family members to receive an afghan made by Mom with love. Our Mother/Baba with her quiet ways and gentle and giving soul will be greatly missed by her family and long-time friend and neighbour Helen Del Ben.
Stella is survived by her three loving daughters, Mikelene(Duncan) Gillis, Veronica (Bill) Mathewson, Karen Cserged and daughter-in-law Mary Lucas. 5 grandchildren: Sherrill (Michael) Vander Hooft, Janis Gillis, Michael Mathewson, Melisande Lucas-Engberg (Peter), Brady Lucas (Monika). 6 great-grandchildren: Amy Vander Hooft, Shayna Roseborsky, Sykara Roseborsky, Ophelia Engberg, Aelise Engberg, and Ronan Lucas.
Predeceased by husband Michael Lucas, son Stephen Lucas and son-in-law Frank Cserged, parents William and Ksenka Olishewski, sisters Jean Kuchiak, Anne Kuchiak, Mary Biloski, Olga Prystanski; brothers Nick Jeffries, John Olishewski, and Wally Olishewski.
We would like to thank the following: CCAC who made it possible for mom to receive health care at home; Bayshore, especially Irene, Imelda and Debra. Each of you in your own unique ways added something special to mom’s life.
ParaMed, particularly Jeff, who had to keep changing his care plan as mom kept rebounding because she wasn’t quite ready to leave us.
Nurse Next Door Donna who cared for mom as if was her own mother. We would not have been able to manage without you during mom’s last two days.
To special friends Tena and Imelda who spent the day with mom during her final days, she enjoyed your stories.
To Calvin Pelletier, Nurse Practitioner: Stella’s Family would like to express our deepest gratitude and appreciation of you and all you did to enrich the last seven years of mom’s life.
Words cannot describe what it meant to us as a family for mom to remain at home under your expert cares. Mom knew she was lucky to have a “doctor” that made house calls. To say thank you is not enough……
At the end it was very evident that there was a profound connection between you and mom in addition to providing her health care, you cared very much about this very special woman in our family.
You have made such a big difference in all of our lives. We will always remember and be forever grateful to you for the care and compassion shown by you to our Mother and Baba.
In accordance with moms wishes cremation has taken place and there will be no funeral. Mom always donated at this time of year to ensure that no one went hungry at Christmas, please consider making a donation to a local charity.
In care of Harbourview and Sunset memorial Gardens.
