Phyllis Senkiw
Obituary
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Phyllis Bernice Senkiw (Ulasy) at the age of 88 on Monday, August 4, 2025, at Bethesda Regional Health Centre, Steinbach, MB.
She is lovingly remembered by her daughter Bev, son-in-law Jake, granddaughter Brittany, her husband, Andrew, brother Eugene, sister-in-law Olive, brother-in-law Alvin, along with many family members, friends, and neighbours.
She was predeceased by her beloved husband Boris, her parents Julius & Helen Ulasy, and her siblings Sabina, Lawrence, Adele, and Eleanor.
Phyllis was born on April 24, 1937, to her parents, Julius and Helen Ulasy, in St. Pierre, and raised in Sarto. She loved telling her granddaughter stories of growing up on their farm, their traditions during the holidays, and of finding ways to sneak out of the house to meet the love of her life, Boris, when they were teenagers, sometimes with the help of her siblings.
As a young adult, she worked as a candy striper at St. Boniface hospital, before ultimately returning to Steinbach to work at Stylerite, where she spent her days chatting with various customers and catching up on the local town gossip, a forever cherished hobby of hers. She went on to have one daughter and eventually one granddaughter, to whom she was deeply devoted. Her family had always been her greatest pride, and she made no secret of it. Always the social one, she enjoyed weekly card games with her friends for years, their laughter from her dining room table where they sat easily heard through the windows and down the street. She loved attending all sporting and school events Brittany had, and she became so well known to the friends of both her daughter and granddaughter that she was ubiquitously known as “baba” to all, a title which she cherished above all else.
The last number of years were not easy for Baba, especially after losing her dear sister and friend, Adele. She lived her life with a quiet strength and a, shall we say, feisty spirit. Anyone who knew her at all will likely be able to recall the fire that was continuously lit within her – we all just hoped it was on our side on any given day. The years were difficult with various health challenges and likely more pain and discomfort than she ever let anyone know. Still, she lived with her grit and moxie and, always, a deep care for those around her. If anyone around her was in need, we could count on that lively spirit to show up and either cook us a meal or tell us exactly what she thought we should do. Early morning, or middle of the night, she’d be there, and we were all the better for it.
We would like to thank the staff at Bethesda hospital for providing such compassionate care to Baba during her last days.
The memorial service for Phyllis will be held on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB. Interment will take place at a later date.
Vichnaya Pamyat our dear, sweet, spirited baba.
