NOVAKOWSKI, Marie

March 26, 1939 — November 5, 2022

Marie Novakowski, 83, of Kelowna, BC, passed away in the early morning hours of November 5, 2022, with her family by her side at Cottonwoods Care Centre.

Marie was born to the late Katharine and Joseph Laschuk, on March 26, 1939, in Lessard, Alberta. Marie and Frank were married in Vernon, BC in 1955 and had 65 busy years together ~ If you work hard and work together, you can get through anything.

Marie is survived by her loving husband Frank; daughter Brenda (Patrick) Kryski; daughter-in-law Michelle; grandchildren Jason, Justin (Vick), Jeff (Jill), Chelsea (John), and Tori (James); four special great-grandchildren Preston, Dawson, Joseph, and Deegan. She was preceded in death by her loving son, Frank Jr. in 2019; sisters Sonia Hunka (d. 2010), Alice Laschuk (d. 2002), and Roseann Mullaly (d. 2020).

Business savvy and always very hardworking, Mom ran very organized offices of every business. With Dad in tow, they owned several businesses: a Chevron Gas Station and Store/Post Office in the 70s in Monte Creek; then in Trail, BC, in the 80s, a MacLeod’s Dept store; and finally Chase Home Hardware from 1988 to 2000. Retirement didn’t slow her down, Mom volunteered her time with the CWL of Immaculata Conception Church in Kelowna. She loved preparing for the Church Bazaars: recruiting members and catering with the ladies. And, in between all that, she still found time to volunteer in the gift store at Cottonwoods Care Centre.

Some of the places that Mom loved to travel to were Costa Rica, China, Korea, Singapore, Brazil, and Hawaii (Mom’s favourite).

Mom loved to show her love through her cooking. She would prepare the most amazing 50-dish dinners (not really 50, but you get the idea). The special dinners at Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas were a spread that just never ended. It was something we all looked forward to and appreciated… I wish I could tell her that, one more time. She could easily whip up a special lunch for company and make it look so easy.

There are no goodbyes for us. Wherever you are, you will always be in my heart. -Mahatma Gandhi

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022, at 11:00 AM (PST), at IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH (839 Sutherland Ave, Kelowna, BC), with Father Cerlouie Jimenez presiding. 

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