Nellie (Yakemow) Bereza

     Nellie Bereza

    It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Nellie Bereza (nee Yakemow) at the age of 89, on Sunday, October 14th, 2018. She died peacefully with her daughter, Carol, at her side at Portage General Hospital. 

    Left to lovingly cherish her memory and celebrate her life are her only daughter, Carol Bereza-Asham (Ivor), and her dearest grandchildren, Evan and Cara Asham. She will be fondly remembered by her cousin-in-law Sonia Bereza, nieces Luba Bereza and Kelly Domenco (Al): sister-in-law, Helen Yakimiw of Winnipeg, along with nieces Alexandra Pokrant (Darryl), Diana Dubeski (John), Cora Campbell (Ross), nephews; Byron Yakemow (Pam), Mike Cebry (Debbie), Peter Cebry and their families. Also left to mourn her passing are her niece Lasha Thurston (Ed), who she cared for deeply, and her grand-nieces, Stephanie Novikov (Albert), and their children Alexandra and Daniel, and Julie Olyowski (Warren), and their children Jack and Quinn.

    Nellie was predeceased by her loving husband, John Bereza, in 2004. Also predeceased by her parents, Peter and Anastasia Yakemow, and her siblings Kay, Alex, and Bill and his wife Anne Yakemow, and her in-laws, Wasyl and Pearl Cebry, and cousin Harry Bereza.

    Nellie was born, raised, and educated in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. She was employed by the Children's Aid Society for 25 years, and continued employment with Manitoba Health and Welfare. She married John Bereza on September 13th, 1952 and enjoyed 51 years of marriage raising their only daughter, Carol. Together they made a life around their church and built a home on Tupper St. She was a supportive partner in life to John and helped him with the business aspect of running John's Shoe Repair. Nellie was a very devoted and loving mother, and dedicated her life to her Catholic faith, church, and her family. She enjoyed travel with her husband to Europe, the United States, and throughout Canada. She retired in 1991 to focus on the arrival of her grandchildren, Evan and Cara. She loved her grandchildren dearly and developed a very close bond with them maintaining a prominent role in their life sharing her wisdom, guidance, and supervision. Her dedication to her grandchildren's interests were paramount in her life and she was always there to support them. Nellie was a very self-disciplined, organized, hard-working woman, with attention to detail and thoroughness in any job she performed. She devoted her entire life to caring for her family's needs. She was a wonderful homemaker, and her talents were vast; from crocheting, knitting, embroidery, sewing, baking, and delicious home cooking. She was deeply devoted to her Catholic faith which shaped her life story of giving, caring and loving her family and friends. Nellie was an active parish member of the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, belonging to the UCWL and the choir. She faithfully attended church every Sunday, and her social life revolved around her church activities where she made many lifelong friends. She was very proud of her Ukrainian heritage and culture. She enjoyed past times such as Easter egg decorating, and baking Paskas that were a work of art, enriching her grandchildren's lives with tradition. The support she has given to her family and her loving ways will be sorely missed, along with her wit and wisdom. May you rest in heavenly peace. We love you dearly. VICHNAYA PAMYAT.

    Thank you to Dr. Jim and Russell Price and staff at Portage General Hospital for the years of wonderful, compassionate care that was given to Nellie.

     Memorial Mass will be held at the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary; 620 1st St NW Portage la Prairie, Manitoba on Saturday October 20th at 12:00 p.m.   Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery and the family invites all to join at Omega Funeral Home; 83 Royal Rd S Portage la Prairie, for food and fellowship. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Nellie's name to the Heart and Stroke Foundation; 103 Wilkinson Crescent, Portage la Prairie, MB,  or to the Ukrainian Catholic Church of Assumption; 620 1st St NW Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. 

Messages of condolences can be made online at www.omegafuneralhome.com.

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