Cremation has taken place. A celebration of life service will be held at a later date. Private Ash interment at Chapel Columbarium, Morden. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Multiple Scleroris Society.
Darlene Margaret Ptosnick (nee Williams)October 8th, 1939 - November 23rd, 2022
It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of Darlene Ptosnick. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Frank, her eldest daughter Marcia, son-in-law Greg, and several nieces and nephews. She is predeceased her younger daughter, Myra, in 2016. Darlene died peacefully at the Tabor Home, with Frank and Marcia by her side.
Darlene was born and raised in Manitou, MB, the eldest of four children and only daughter of Bill and Margaret Williams. Darlene was proud of her farm upbringing. At an early age, her father taught her to drive a tractor and contribute to a multitude of farm operations. She also learned many homemaking and craft skills from her mother and grandmother, including gardening, canning, knitting, crocheting, needlework and quilting - all activities that she maintained through most of her life. During her last year of high school, she was visiting an aunt and uncle in Thornhill and joined them for the Christmas curling bonspiel. It was there that she met her future husband, Frank. The rest is history!
After high school, Darlene went to Winnipeg and became a primary school teacher in North Kildonan. At that time, Frank was working as a barber in Gimli. They married in 1960 and moved to Morden. Darlene continued teaching until the arrival of their daughters, after which she focused on raising them and passing on her exceptional crafting skills. She was very active in the community - a 4-H leader, member of the Royal Purple, and the United Church choir - and both her and Frank continued to curl together. They also started Morden Berry Farms, which they operated from 1972 to 1981. After the girls graduated, Darlene started working at Stedman’s Department Store, later becoming a partner and co-owner in its operation. Darlene was an exceptionally skilled buyer - she was always able to stock the store with just the right items. The craft section she developed - particularly the yarns, wools and embroidery cottons - drew people from across the region.
In the early 1990s, Darlene was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). The disease progressed slowly at first, allowing Darlene and Frank to travel across Canada and the US, visiting Marcia, Myra and many family and friends in cities such as Fort Lauderdale, Tucson, Phoenix, Chicago, San Antonio and Victoria. Eventually, MS made traveling too difficult and Darlene refocused on her knitting and other hobbies, adding chip carving to her many talents. As her MS continued to progress, Darlene was forced to give up her beloved activities one-by-one. Regular everyday activities required considerable assistance. In 2013, she moved to Tabor Home. Frank visited faithfully twice a day. They read the newspaper together, did word searches, and watched curling and football whenever possible. The last few years have been particularly challenging, with COVID restrictions limiting Darlene’s visits with Frank and other friends. It took a considerable toll on her health and well-being.
We are grateful for the caring and compassionate nurses, personal care workers and other staff at Tabor Home who provided Darlene with excellent care over the past 10 years. She hated asking for help, but accepted it graciously when it was offered. We will miss her terribly. Private interment has occurred. A celebration of life is being planned for the spring of 2023. Family and friends who wish to honour Darlene’s memory are asked to consider a donation to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada.
Darlene Margaret Ptosnick (nee Williams)October 8th, 1939 - November 23rd, 2022
It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of Darlene Ptosnick. She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Frank, her eldest daughter Marcia, son-in-law Greg, and several nieces and nephews. She is predeceased her younger daughter, Myra, in 2016. Darlene died peacefully at the Tabor Home, with Frank and Marcia by her side.
Darlene was born and raised in Manitou, MB, the eldest of four children and only daughter of Bill and Margaret Williams. Darlene was proud of her farm upbringing. At an early age, her father taught her to drive a tractor and contribute to a multitude of farm operations. She also learned many homemaking and craft skills from her mother and grandmother, including gardening, canning, knitting, crocheting, needlework and quilting - all activities that she maintained through most of her life. During her last year of high school, she was visiting an aunt and uncle in Thornhill and joined them for the Christmas curling bonspiel. It was there that she met her future husband, Frank. The rest is history!
After high school, Darlene went to Winnipeg and became a primary school teacher in North Kildonan. At that time, Frank was working as a barber in Gimli. They married in 1960 and moved to Morden. Darlene continued teaching until the arrival of their daughters, after which she focused on raising them and passing on her exceptional crafting skills. She was very active in the community - a 4-H leader, member of the Royal Purple, and the United Church choir - and both her and Frank continued to curl together. They also started Morden Berry Farms, which they operated from 1972 to 1981. After the girls graduated, Darlene started working at Stedman’s Department Store, later becoming a partner and co-owner in its operation. Darlene was an exceptionally skilled buyer - she was always able to stock the store with just the right items. The craft section she developed - particularly the yarns, wools and embroidery cottons - drew people from across the region.
In the early 1990s, Darlene was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). The disease progressed slowly at first, allowing Darlene and Frank to travel across Canada and the US, visiting Marcia, Myra and many family and friends in cities such as Fort Lauderdale, Tucson, Phoenix, Chicago, San Antonio and Victoria. Eventually, MS made traveling too difficult and Darlene refocused on her knitting and other hobbies, adding chip carving to her many talents. As her MS continued to progress, Darlene was forced to give up her beloved activities one-by-one. Regular everyday activities required considerable assistance. In 2013, she moved to Tabor Home. Frank visited faithfully twice a day. They read the newspaper together, did word searches, and watched curling and football whenever possible. The last few years have been particularly challenging, with COVID restrictions limiting Darlene’s visits with Frank and other friends. It took a considerable toll on her health and well-being.
We are grateful for the caring and compassionate nurses, personal care workers and other staff at Tabor Home who provided Darlene with excellent care over the past 10 years. She hated asking for help, but accepted it graciously when it was offered. We will miss her terribly. Private interment has occurred. A celebration of life is being planned for the spring of 2023. Family and friends who wish to honour Darlene’s memory are asked to consider a donation to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada.