With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Ethel Calnek at the age of 95. Ethel was predeceased by her husband, Gerry Calnek in 1995. She is survived by her daughter Trish Calnek (Ralph) in Winnipeg, daughter Sandy Sparanese in Victoria, and granddaughter Sydney Sparanese in Vancouver.
Ethel was born in Cadillac, Saskatchewan on May 12, 1924 and grew up on the farm with her parents, George and Lola Robinson, and her three older brothers Edgar, Raymond and Garland. She left the farm at the early age of 17 to attend secretarial school and worked in a number of different offices over the years, ending her career as an accountant with the Manitoba Nurses Association. Ethel married Gerry Calnek in 1958 and began their married life in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. They started a family in Prince Albert with Trish arriving in 1963 and Sandy following in 1965, and eventually relocated to Winnipeg.
Ethel was very involved in the golf community and was proud to have held the positions of President of Rossmere Golf and Country Club and President of the Manitoba Ladies Golf Association. She loved to travel and enjoyed many golf vacations around the world.
Ethel will be remembered for being a genuine and wholeheartedly loving woman who left a mark on everyone who was lucky enough to have known her. She inspired us with her willingness to take on new challenges with jobs and volunteer positions. She had a wide social network of friends and was very devoted to them.
Ethel was a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She filled each of these roles with love, dedication, grace and strength. She had unwavering love for her daughters and granddaughter, and we will strive to live in the legacy of love she so selflessly gave to us.
Special thank you to Dr. Carl Duerksen for years of kindness and personalized care for mom and to Dr. Karen Lage and the wonderful nursing staff at the Concordia Hospital.
Ethel will be honoured with a Celebration of Life on Tuesday, March 17th at 2:00 pm at Rossmere Golf and Country Club, 925 Watt Street, Winnipeg.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Ethel’s memory to the Concordia Hospital Foundation or the charity of your choice.