Obituary
Nettie Differ (nee Makarchuk)
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Nettie Differ on February 21, 2020, at the age of 93. She will be lovingly remembered by her children, Brian (Becky), Valdene (Wayne) and Rodney; grandchildren Nicolas (Maria), Brent (Diane), Kayla, Brittany, Leanne and Peter; her sister Margaret and 4 great-grandchildren.
Nettie was predeceased by her husband Peter; parents Stephan and Annie Makarchuk, brother-in-law Max Holyk; daughter-in-law Susan Differ; brother Tony Makarchuk and 2 infant siblings.
Nettie was born in St. Boniface, Winnipeg, and in her early years they moved to the family farm in Lac du Bonnet, where she attended school until grade 8. At an early age she loved to bake and cook with her mother, which she flourished with all her life, making all the traditional Ukrainian foods for family & friends to enjoy.
Nettie met Peter Differ at a barn dance and they married in 1950. They moved to Dencross where they raised their 3 children on the farm. In 1991 they decided to retire and move to East Selkirk, but shortly after Peter passed.
Nettie enjoyed her gardening of vegetables and flowers, her apple trees and growing the best garlic each year. She made sure you never left her home without a full tummy and a shopping bag full of goodies. She loved playing card games like crib and whist with her friends, going to garage sales with her neighbors, making sure she found something for the grandkids to play with. Cooking new recipes that she cut out of the papers. She was a phenomenal cook and was famous for her cloud soup that we all loved.
Nettie came to live with her daughter Valdene and Wayne when her health was failing in 2012. This was a whole new lifestyle for her. She loved attending baba daycare in Stonewall, with the meeting of new people and making new friends, the adorable crafts she made while she became our very own Picasso with her love of artwork and paintings that she was so proud to bring home.
Special thanks to the staff at Tudor House where mom lived the past 4 years, and a special thanks to her granddaughter Leanne who worked there as a health care aide for baba. We would also like to thank the staff at Selkirk Regional Health Centre for the kind and compassionate care for mom in her last days with us.
We all miss you so very much mom/baba, and we love you Ponakupa!!!
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at Gilbart Funeral Chapel, Selkirk, MB, on Saturday, March 7, 2020 at 11:00 am. Interment will take place at Mars Hills Cemetery in Brokenhead at a later date with the family.
In lieu of flowers, donations to any mental health organization of one’s choice.
Condolences may be left on her tribute wall at www.gilbartfuneralhome.com
Gilbart Funeral Home, Selkirk in care of arrangements.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Nettie Differ February 21 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Selkirk, Province: Manitoba