Ellen Oleschak

Ellen Mary Oleschak age 88 of Silver Ridge, MB died April 26, 2022 at the Ste Rose Hospital.
Ellen was born on July 21st, 1933 at Horse Bluff, Manitoba.  Daughter of Harold Brandson and Nellie Brandson(Shuttleworth).  Ellen was a sister to Douglas, Russell, and Simmy.  The family ranched between Wapah, Horse Bluff and Silver Ridge.  The family purchased the property at Silver Ridge in order for the children to attend Normandon School.
The family returned to Horse Bluff when the children were older, then returned to Silver Ridge during the flood of the 1950’s.
Ellen met William Oleschak at a dance at the Normandon School.  They were married June 2, 1959.  In 1963, they bought the Silver Ridge homestead from Ellen’s parents, which would be her home for the remainder of her life.
Ellen and Bill welcomed 5 children: Debbie (Ted), Robbie (Kathy), Dannie (Dianne), Sally and Gary (Toni).
Ellen had many grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Each and everyone were special to her.
Ellen loved to knit slippers and handed them out to anyone that came to visit and happened to mention that they had cold feet.  She would insist that they take the slippers home with them when they left.
Ellen loved to play rummy cube with her family and friends.  She also loved playing cards.  There were many games of 25 Hundred played around her kitchen table in the evenings.
When Bill retired, Ellen and Bill started stick curling.  They bought broom ball shoes, so they would not slip on the ice and went to town.  They joined the curling league and continued to curl and enjoyed the social aspects of the curling rick for many years.
Ellen loved gardening.  This past summer Debbie and Ted had tilled up her old garden spot and planted a garden.  You would see Ellen out there daily on her golf cart, checking the garden and telling Ted how to weed, till, hoe and water the garden.  She was always the boss and liked to tell people how to do things her way. 
 Her golf cart became her legs as she got older.  It hauled many loads of vegetables from the garden, when she was gardening on her own.  Later the golf cart became her way to get around the yard to check on her trees and field, along with giving her great grandchildren rides.  She also taught all of her great grandchildren to drive using the golf cart.  She was on the golf cart daily.
Ellen was a very sociable person.  She loved her friends and her phone.  She spoke daily to all her children and to her friends.
Ellen loved when people would stop at her home for a visit.  Everyone was always welcome, no matter the time of day.  If it was meal time, she insisted that you sat down and shared a meal.  Any other time of the day she would get out the home-made cookies and a pot of tea.  The conversation was always lively with a certain amount of humour and stories thrown in for good measure.
Ellen will be dearly missed by all of her family and friends

A memorial service was held on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at 2:00 PM in the Alonsa Community Centre, Alonsa, MB.  

Rev. Jona Weitzel will officiate with interment following in the Gray's Ridge Cemetery, Alonsa, MB 

Should friends so desire, please consider remembering Ellen with a donation to the Canadian Cancer Society or to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba.  

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