Obituary of Alma Tendies

After a brief illness, Alma Tendies passed away peacefully with her family by her side at the age of 81 years on November 8, 2021 at the Concordia Hospital in Winnipeg. Left to cherish her memory are her daughters Kelly Heinrich (Tim) and Jennifer Kaktins (Ken); sisters Lea Zirk (Wally) and Hedy Gillis (Dan); and grandchildren Kyle, Jake, Natasha and Noah. Alma was born on the family farm in Greenwald, Manitoba on November 10, 1939 to Elsie and Albert Petznik. Being the middle daughter of the three girls lent itself to having lifelong companions from the very beginning. The three sisters were inseparable and in their youth they enjoyed spending days blueberry picking, crafting, making donuts with their mother, needlepoint but especially attending the weekly country socials or barn dances. Alma raised her two daughters in their family home on McIvor Avenue in Winnipeg. When the girls were school-aged, she began working for Burrows Business Machines (later Unisys) where she assembled and soldered circuit boards for over 20 years, until the plant’s closure. Remaining close throughout their lives meant that the three sisters would frequently get together. Kelly and Jennifer loved having Christmas at Aunt Heady’s in Dryden Ontario. Mom later worked at Sobey’s in the meat department before retiring at the age of 75. In her retirement she had more time to enjoy traveling with her sisters and their families, especially when the destination included a stop at the casino. Alma loved “ching-chinging” as she called it, named after the sound of that her buckets of coins would make after a successful evening playing slots. She and her sisters traveled across the US and even enjoyed a Caribbean cruise. In accordance with Alma’s wishes, cremation has taken place and a private family memorial service will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Canadian Kidney Foundation in Alma’s memory.