Obituary of Bonnie Susan Novak

It is with a heavy hearts that I announce my passing on May 31, 2024.  After a long hard fought battle with three different cancers, I just could not fight anymore.  I am now an angel on the beach forever.

I was born Bonnie Susan Novak, March 13, 1959 on a Friday at Women’s Pavilion in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  My earliest memories are of the house on Rita Street.  We moved to The Pas, Manitoba when I was three years old, where my parents first started into the hotel business.  In the summer of ’65, we moved back to Winnipeg and six months later to Flin Flon, Manitoba, calling it home for over 50 plus years.  This is where I made many lifelong friends. I made some short moves over my lifetime, but always came back “home” to Flin Flon . 

As a child, I was involved in Ukrainian Dance from the age of three and “retired” in my mid 20’s.  I had many teachers over the years and at one point taught with two of my dear friends.  My highlight of dancing was with Cymr Dance Ensemble and being able to perform at Pantages Playhouse in a huge production of dance, song and story telling.

I was also very athletic, having taken up figure skating, running in track and cheerleading in junior high & high school, and winning the northern cheerleading championship by landing a flying split.  None of the small caliber teams in the north had even attempted this manoeuver and this helped earn me sports letters in cheerleading and track.

The work force had me, of course, in the hotel industry first in Winnipeg and then later in Flin Flon, while also working for B.M.O. off and on for 15 years in various positions in between.

Even though it was not meant to be, not having children did make a void in my life.  But the numerous younger cousins and then nieces and nephews to come, fulfilled that void.  I also seemed to have a hand in raising a few others that crossed my path over the years, namely Alicia Durkee Merkosky & Jesse Durkee and Nathan & Nicolas Bilenky.

I was predeceased by my Baba's and Gigi's Tony & Tina Nowak and Tony & Phyllis Stach, my mother Lavinia, aunts & uncles Ernie Stach , Steve & Vivian Stach, Margaret & Lorry Balabanski, Mabel & Mike Mochnacz, and Nancy Novak, as well as other close family members.

I am survived by my father Steve, brothers Wayne & Gerald, nieces and nephews Adrienne & Kevin Petryk, Lynndon & Stacey Novak, Dustin Novak & Kaitlyn Baker, Joshua Novak, Ashley Petryk and Emily Novak.  Godchildren are Lynndon Novak, Shauna Clement & Candace Malcolm.  My very special cousins are Darlene & Dennis Derhak, Phyllis & David Dube, and very special aunt and uncles Dolores & Steve Zegalski and Bill Novak. Also the numerous close cousins who were more like sisters/brothers/nieces/nephews, and my dear friends Mary Busby, Judy Burrows, Janice Antonson, & Linda Connolly.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Cancer Care Manitoba.  Special Thanks to my Oncology and Radiation Teams over the years, Dr. James Butler, R.N. Robert Richardson, Dr. Larry Tan, Dr. Stephen Gowing, Dr. Juan Kim, Dr. Andrew Maksymiuk and nurse practitioner Tamara.  Also thanks to my general physician Dr. Orest Prodan and Chloe who was there when needed.

Funeral Services will be held Thursday, June 13, 2024 at St. Basil’s Church, 202 Harcourt Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba at 11:00 am.

Vichnaya Pamyat