Olga Puhach

Its with great sadness that Olga Puhach passed away peacefully on February 28, 2026, at 90 years of age. Olga was the last and youngest living member of the Slipetz family. Olga was born on January 18, 1936, in Pine River, Manitoba to Phillip and Verna (nee Kunka) Slipetz. 

Olga attended Vimy Ridge School walking 3.5 miles one way. She finished grade 6 and stayed home to help her parents on the farm as her father was away working a lot. Olga later moved to Winnipeg where she got a job at a sewing factory with her sister Jean. She then went to work at a greenhouse where she enjoyed working with plants and flowers and got her green thumb. She went to help her sister Ann in Duck Bay while she was recovering from surgery as Bill and Ann ran a store.

Olga was visiting her sister Stella over the Easter weekend in 1963 when a neighbour, Nick came to visit. They got to know each other and were married on November 26, 1964, in Pine River. They began their life together in the Glenhope area on the family farm in a new house. They were blessed with one daughter Susan. 

Olga was very active on the farm helping Nick along with raising chickens, ducks, geese, cattle and planting large gardens and flowers. She also enjoyed canning, baking and cooking - making lots of perogies and cabbage rolls. Olga sewed in the winter months making a few quilts and pillows from goose feathers. She was an active member in the Glenhope Church.

In 1994 Nick and Olga sold the farm and retired into McCreary. Olga continued to garden and plant flowers and go for drives with Nick looking for mushrooms and berries. Life changed when Nick got sick and passed away in 2002. Olga still continued gardening in town as well as planting more at her sister Stella’s on the farm. She would be found outside weeding or cutting grass or maintaining her flowers. Every spring Olga was excited to order from the seed catalogues to plant new things and couldn’t wait for the greenhouses to open up for the season. Olga flew 4 times to Vancouver to visit her brother John and family and truly enjoyed it. 

Christmas and Easter were special and important occasions to Olga and was very proud of her Ukrainian culture. Yearly trips to the Ukrainian Festival in Dauphin was made. Family and friends were important. Olga was always up to a visit and a delicious meal when anyone would drop by.

Olga was predeceased by her parents Phillip and Verna Slipetz, husband Nick, sisters Ann (Bill) Mandziuk, Jean Husak, Stella (Fred) Batyski, brother John (Rose) Slipetz, nephews William and Michael Batyski, Michael Zawada, father-in-law and mother-in-law John and Irene Puhach.

Left to mourn is her daughter Susan, nephews John Batyski, Terry Husak, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Mike and Shirley Puhach, numerous cousins and extended family.

Should friends so desire, donations in memory of Olga may be made to St. Mary the Protectress Church.

This service was recorded and is available after the service, for those who were unavailable to attend.

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