Jenny Lee VIVIAN LEWIS (nee Chepil)
April 14, 1938 – May 29, 2024
A Memorial Service will take place on Sunday, August 11, 2024 at 12 noon at the Dryden Community Funeral Home with Father Alan Campeau officiating.
Interment will follow in the Amesdale Cemetery.
It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that Linda Woitowicz and Sherry Fisher announce their much-loved Mom’s peaceful passing in her home at Princess Court, Dryden at 86 years old.
Vivian will be missed so much by her daughters, Linda (Gerry) and Sherry (Keith), her granddaughters (Lindsay, Stacey, and Abby (Daniel)), and her great grandchildren (Noah, Merek, Aveah, Ryak, Rylan, Kaylor, Marie and Hazel). She left behind one brother (Gerry Chepil), many nieces and nephews along with their families, and her good friend Theresa Shinkman and son Sam; she was so proud of Sammy. She will also be missed by her good friends Lorraine and Rolly.
Vivian loved all her nieces and nephews to pieces. Every summer, she would make sure they all had the opportunity to come to Dryden from Kenora for a week. Arron, Ray, Ryan and Kara; Fausto and Dev; and Sherry Lynn, will miss her dearly. Every fall, off to the Emo Fair to spend time with her nieces and nephews there, Susan, David, Nancy, Glen and Sandy. Although he couldn’t visit due to distance, Greg will miss her just as much.
Viv was predeceased by her father Stephen (Steve) Chepil, her mother Margaret Stella Chepil, brother Alex (Al) Chepil and sister in-law Connie, brother Art Krawicki and sister in-law Sharron, brother Bruce Krawicki, and her great niece Katelynn Poulin. The loss of her grandson, Joshua Woitowicz, her niece Shelley Chepil, and her best friend Doreen Zubrecki broke her heart.
Vivian was born in the village of Stornoway, Saskatchewan, close to Yorkton. In November her family moved to Ignace when she was 7 where she helped raise her brothers and went to school. She later moved to Dryden where she married Ardell and excelled at raising their 2 daughters for 24 years of marriage.
For many that knew this very independent, determined, strong and sometimes feisty woman known as Mom, Nana, Sister, Auntie Viv, Mrs. Lewis, and Vivian, the loss is tremendous.
Over the years Viv loved gardening, camping at Rushing River, Blue Lake and Amesdale. She spent plenty of proud hours in her garden and canning in the fall. Her cooking was exceptional and she taught her daughters all her recipes. Crocheting, bowling, playing cards, dancing, fishing, watching her great grandsons play hockey, Nascar racing and her family, gave her a full life. Mom’s biggest job of her life was Child Development Resource Manager, or as she would say “stay home Mom”. She was always striving for self improvement. Her greatest accomplishment was breaking the cycle of her past; thank you Natalie, Mom loved you like a daughter.
Mom loved the color pink, carnations, music, puzzles and cats. Secretly, she loved watching her baby girl with her horses, although she worried herself sick.
In her later years, her favourites were desert, chocolate almonds, cashews, warm blankets and watching Blue Bloods. Always looking forward to August when she got to spend time at the cabin at Amesdale Lake, picking berries, mushrooms, feeding the chipmunks, eating real good food, and fishing in the paddle boat; that was the best way to fish. She would spend every Christmas with her eldest daughter and family, shopping in Winnipeg and watching her great grandsons.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all who have taken such good care of Vivian. From hospital staff and Dr. Berry to workers and RNs who made Princess Court a wonderful home for our mom.
In her honour, donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, PO Box 4613, Stn. E., Ottawa, ON, K1S 1P7, as she held a special place in her heart for St. Jude’s Children Hospital.
Condolences may be posted to www.dcfh.ca
Arrangements entrusted to the Dryden Community Funeral Home, 249 Grand Trunk Avenue, Dryden, ON P8N 2X3.
