It is with profound sadness that we share the unexpected passing of our beloved mother, Margaret Slizak. Mom was predeceased by our Dad, Joe, our Brother, Wayne, her parents and all her siblings. Brenda Lynn (Neil) and Kim (Robert) are left with a space in our souls that can never be filled.

Our Mom is also survived by sisters-in-law, Eileen (Jim), Ardeth, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mom was born in Saskatchewan and moved to Vernon at age four. In grade one, she developed lifelong friendships with Donna, Bev, Birdie, and June. Added to her host of special friends are Joey and Myrna.

Graduating with first class standing in early childhood education, Mom was a kindergarten and then nursery schoolteacher at Trinity United Church. She later worked at Boots and several other drug stores.

Mom was passionate about volunteering with many organizations. She was one of the first members of the Vernon Girls Trumpet Band and later became a chaperone travelling to Europe and throughout Canada and the US. Always concerned about those who were less fortunate than she, she spent countless hours knitting and sewing for I.O.D.E. She volunteered for many years at the Vernon Jubilee Hospital where she delighted in delivering mail, working at the gift shop and garden fair with our longtime family friend Pauline. She also volunteered at the Museum, and it was her greatest hope that she would live long enough to see a new Art Gallery and Museum finally built. She cared about the homeless and her and Kim would make backpacks full of toiletries and other necessities to be distributed to those in need
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Mom was fun, kind, and generous to a fault. She looked for the best in everyone and all those who knew her immediately loved her as we did. She loved to garden, craft, and try new recipes, many of which she did not exactly follow. She has installed in both of us a love for nature, animals, and concern for our environment. Kalamalka Lake was her favourite and she spent hours with her dog Magoo walking along the shores of the beach. She enjoyed hiking to Rattlesnake point and decorated her home with pictures of the lake in the changing seasons. The view of Okanagan and Swan Lake from her home brought her immense pleasure. Mom liked to share her “wisdoms” and we were often on “lecture alert”.

She always told us then when she passed away, she would be sitting up on her cloud, watching over us. When you see a robin, marigolds, or hear the call of a loon think of her.

A service will not be held by her request, but we will celebrate her life with friends and family in September. In lieu of flowers a donation to the Upper Room Mission Society would make her and us very happy.