With much sorrow, the family announces the passing of Agnes Smolak of 10 Victoria, Dryden. She was a deeply loved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. She was born to John Pokornik and Agnes Yagos in Lipov Czechoslovakia. Her family moved to Tilly, Alberta, in 1928 where they farmed for 10 years. They then moved to Pigeon River northwest of Winnipeg. In 1939, Agnes married George Smolak and lived on a farm in St Francis Xavier. In 1943, they moved to Camp Robinson, Ontario, a small logging camp where they raised their family. Life was hard with no running water and a wood stove for heat and cooking in the house. After the children grew up, she worked as a cook’s assistant in the camp kitchen. Agnes also cleaned and painted at the school and worked at a tourist camp at nearby Cedar Lake. They moved to Dryden in 1969 when George retired. Agnes worked in the hospital laundry room until she retired in 1984. She loved gardening, and many people witnessed her almost daily walks around town.
Agnes was predeceased by her husband George, companion Adolf Schultz, brothers Frank, John, Joe and William Pokornik, sister Mary Holcek and grandson Richard Smolak. She will be greatly missed by her son Joe (Christel) Smolak of Pinawa, daughters Mary (Frank) Buccini of Winnipeg, Jean (Louis) Richard of Thunder Bay, Arlene Smolak of Winnipeg and Margaret (Russ) Booth of Hamilton, 7 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, sister Mildred Kozyniak of Winnipeg, brother Laddie (Linda) Pokornik of Castlegar, B.C., as well as numerous other relatives.
A private family memorial service will be held at a later date.
If friends desire donations may be made to Northern Cancer Research Foundation or DRHC Foundation online or through the Stevens Funeral Homes P.O. Box 412, Dryden ON P8N 2Z1. Condolences may be posted at www.stevensfuneralhomes.ca