Anne Semenko (nee Pastushenko)

Obituary

Semenko, Anne Gloria (nee Pastushenko) 1925-2019. It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our dear mother Anne Semenko, who passed away suddenly and peacefully at the age of 94, at her home which she enjoyed so much.

Mother is lovingly remembered by her daughters: Tamara and Rena, grandchildren Sacha, Ava and Ethan, sister Nell and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

She is preceded in death by her husband David (Dave) Semenko and siblings: George, Victoria and Mary.

She was born September 25th, 1925, in Indian Bay, MB, to Pelagia (Polly) and Nicholas Pastushenko. They settled in McMunn, MB, in a beautiful farmhouse overlooking the Birch River and she spent her early years on the family farm. School teaching was her desired vocation and in her later teens she went on to Normal School in Teulon, MB, to receive her Teaching Certificate. Anne began her teaching career in Pine Ridge then McMunn school and remained connected with classmates and fellow teachers up until her passing.

Through her teaching career she met her future husband, Dave. They were married in 1955 and built a house in Selkirk, MB, where they spent a good part of their married lives and where their two children were born. Dad was a math and science teacher at the Selkirk Junior High and Mom taught elementary school and special needs classes at Daerwood School. She retired from teaching to spend more time at home and took a part-time job selling World Book Encyclopedia. Her outgoing personality and charm soon led her to become one of the top salespeople which earned her multiple rewards, including a wonderful family trip to Hawaii in 1979.

Mom’s hard work and expert discipline in budgeting also awarded her dream of building a new house back in her stomping grounds of McMunn, MB, along the beautiful Birch River where her mother and two of her sisters still lived. She and Dad would spend the rest of their days travelling back and forth between their homes in Selkirk and McMunn and also travelling the world – Russia, Ukraine, British Virgin Islands to name a few. At home Mother lovingly tended to the gardens surrounding her acreage and became somewhat of a pillar of the community in the area from Hadashville to East Braintree. Whether it be at the Seniors club, or the East Braintree church, everyone knew Anne for her abilities of organizing, record keeping and money management. In her retirement years she would bake, garden and sew but above all she valued music, dancing, singing as a participant and as entertainment. Mom was a lover of the arts and you could not keep her away from a good show. She made sure her daughters had training in piano, voice and dance. Oh and did someone say “bingo”?

Anne’s body may have left this earth but her vibrant energy and zest for life will live on within all who knew her. Mother you are loved and will be missed.

For those who would like to attend, there will be a celebration of Anne’s life on Wednesday, October 16, 2019, at 11:00 a.m., at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB.

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