Linda Lovas

On Monday, June 29, 2020, at the age of 67 with her daughter Julie by her side at Roblin District Health Center, Linda Lovas passed away peacefully.

Linda Maryanne was the daughter of John and Sylvia Nykyforak born on January 19, 1953 in Roblin. She was the eldest of the two girls. Her younger sister, Sharon was born a short time later on March 11, 1954. Linda started her school days in Timber school, which was in the Hillsburg Municipality. Later, the country schools all moved the students to Roblin, Manitoba, where she then attended Roblin Intermediate School from grades 7-8, then to Roblin Collegiate where she attended Grades 9-11. She moved to Winnipeg after Grade 11 to her Auntie Nettie and Uncle Ed Kendall’s place. She also lived with her Auntie Linda Cockerill in Winnipeg. In March of 1970, she received a spelling proficiency certificate for successfully spelling the list of 100 words in an international spelling competition. In August of the same year, she received a diploma from Success Commercial College graduating from a stenography course. 

When Linda was young, she spent lots of time swimming in the river. Not long ago she was saying she loved playing baseball too, but her baseball career ended when she got hit by a ball. She liked to bake as a young girl and would bake cakes often. This love of baking stayed with her throughout her life. She was known for her chocolate peaks, which her nephews, Corey, Kyle and Ryan would fight over getting the container she was sending back to Alberta, with her sister Sharon. Linda was always a helpful child helping with yard work or feeding the cows or whatever else was needed.  She enjoyed the indoor chores of cooking and cleaning and baking rather than doing the outdoor chores though. Her and Sharon also had to feed the chickens and close them up for the night. They also had berry picking to do during the summer when berries were in season. The buckets seemed hard to fill as the berries at the bottom would seem to soften and shrink, so it seemed to take forever to fill them. Teenage life saw Linda and Sharon, and their uncle Wayne and uncle Chester together lots. They would drive around country roads and go to bush parties or bunkhouse parties at Chester’s together. They were more like brothers and sisters, than uncles and nieces. They always had each other’s backs and never told on each other, even when they maybe should have. Lots of the time they’d also have other friends pile in the car with them. Linda had lots of friends, and lots of family friends in her younger years. Some days, Linda and Sharon would go to hang out with the San Clara bunch and spend time together with friends and singing and playing the guitars either at Lovers Leap in Boggy Creek or at Childs Lake.

One day, Linda and Sharon went on a double date. This double date led to many years of marriage with her husband, Arnold. They were married on July 8, 1972 and celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary just shortly before Arnold passed away in 2015. Arnold and Linda spent lots of time in their early years together camping at Childs Lake, Madge Lake and even taking some trips to British Columbia, and The United States. On September 11, 1973, they welcomed their first baby girl, Loralee Nadine to their family. Loralee spent a lot of time with her Auntie Bernice and Grandma Lovas. June 20, 1977, along came their 2nd daughter Trina Dawn. Then on August 22, 1978, their family became complete with their third daughter Julie Lyn.  Linda loved her three girls. She wasn’t one to pick a favourite and made sure to treat them all equally. She made a special effort to keep in contact with each of her girls when they grew up. She’d call often, bringing supper over, or just going for a coffee.

On May 10, 1999, her first granddaughter, Emily was born. Soon after, on August 7, 1999, the first grandson, Carlton was born. Over the next 10 years, Linda welcomed each of her other grandchildren, Casey, Elijah, James, Jayda and Jackson. 

In 2015, Linda moved into town and lived in her apartment that she loved.  She was a faithful friend. She had several close friends throughout her life. Some of these special friends included Lois Chase, Shirley Woodman, Joyce Douse, Betty Trost, Elaine Burwash and Brenda Cockerill, as well as lots of Arnold’s family. In December of 2017, Linda met Willard Laviolette, who was not only a friend, but someone who she loved and enjoyed spending time with. He was a dedicated person to her and visited almost daily as well as called her every evening. They enjoyed spending time together.

On Monday evening she called her daughter Julie, and said that she wasn’t feeling well, and wanted company. After arriving at her place, they both decided that it was best that Linda should go to the hospital and it wasn’t long after they got there, that Linda would take her last breath.

Linda was a very content person. She was happy with what she had and didn’t need the biggest or the best of things. She liked to dress up and wear jewellery when she was going anywhere. It was important to her to look nice. She was a kind hearted, quiet person. She loved her family and friends. She was so appreciative of the visits she got from anyone who stopped in to see her and her phone calls were a big part of her life. She was a very generous person who genuinely cared about others. She will be missed.

Linda will be missed by her three girls, Loralee Lovas (Kevin Cherney); Trina and Max Nemetchek and their sons, Carlton, Elijah and James; Julie & Tim Shiner and their children Emily & Zach Jordan, Casey, Jayda and Jackson. Also surviving are her mother, Sylvia Nykyforak; and sister, Sharon and her three sons, Corey and Christine Laroque and family, Kyle Laroque (Kerstin Johnson) and family, and Ryan Robert and daughter, Emmellia.

She was predeceased by her husband, Arnold; her father, John Nykyforak; her mother-in-law, Lorentse Lovas and father-in-law, Carlot Lovas.

A graveside Service was held on Monday, July 6, 2020 at 2:00 pm at the Bield Cemetery with Pastor Heath Butler officiating. If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made in memory of Linda Lovas to the Bield Cemetery Box 6 RR2 Roblin, MB R0L 1P0.

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