Obituary
Charlene Lavkulik, of the City of Lethbridge, Alberta, beloved wife of the late Lawrence Lavkulik, passed away peacefully after a lengthy illness at St.Therese Villa on February 28, 2022 at the age of 83 years.
Charlene was born on October 30, 1938 and lived the majority of her life in Lethbridge. She had many lifelong friendships that had begun in her youth. After high school at LCI, Charlene attended nursing school at the Holy Cross Hospital in Calgary. Upon graduation in 1959, she married her ‘high school sweetheart’ Lawrence in 1960 and they moved to Fort McLeod where she worked as a nurse at the local hospital. Returning to Lethbridge one year later, she continued to work part-time in the hospital and local clinics. With the demands of a young family with three children, she gave up her nursing career entirely to be at home for her family. Later, as the children became older, she worked part-time for 18 years as a kindergarten assistant in the Lethbridge Public School System. In these early days, she was busy with her children and their activities. Summer holidays often involved packing up the RV trailer and heading out to BC and other local favorite spots around Lethbridge to camp with friends.
From 1977-1995, Charlene and Lawrence could be found, especially in the summer months, at their small rustic cabin in Duck Lake, Montana. There were many good memories with friends visiting with story-telling and laughing around the campfire. Charlene was a great fisherwoman often catching the biggest fish of the day. Not only, she was most skillful at deboning fish and made the best trout fish and chips around! She loved ice cream from the ‘Schwan’s Man’ as his truck would frequent Duck Lake in the summer months.
After retiring, Charlene and her husband travelled to Mexico many times with other trips to Florida, Hawaii, cruise vacations, and trips to visit family in Edmonton, the Okanagan and Toronto. During the summer months, they enjoyed their motorhome especially visiting Waterton Lakes National Park and Kananaskis Country.
Charlene was generous with her time and volunteered for over ten years with the “Special “Olympics” as a bowling coach. A woman of deep religious faith, she was a longstanding member of the Catholic Women’s League (CWL) and helped out at various church functions including masses, funerals, and meal preparations. On Tuesdays, Charlene was active at the ‘Soup Kitchen’ helping create the ‘soup du jour’ based on local donated ingredients. Additionally, Charlene could be found back again in the hospital but this time as a volunteer.
There was no one neater, tidier or who could clean like Charlene. In nursing school, she was the proud recipient of the “Best Aseptic Technique Award”. This trait continued with her throughout her life. She did not like dust, lint, flies or ants, and somehow always managed to minimize their presence – no matter where. She loved to vacuum, such that her husband, Lawrence, would often joke that within one year, their newly installed carpet ended up in the vacuum bag. On annual camping trips to BC, she was a source of inspiration for, and frequent winner of, the community’s “Best Housekeeping Award” for tidiest trailer. She enjoyed music, and was herself a very accomplished pianist and organist, and was always a source of inspiration, support and talent to her musically gifted family members.
With impeccable manners, she had and maintained high standards but was always forgiving. She inspired us all to pursue our dreams with passion yet also to be ‘good sports’ and be content with knowing we had done ‘the best that we could’. She was a role model mother and wife. Charlene was a sweet, classy woman adored by all.
Charlene is survived by her daughter Lori Savard of Edmonton (husband Michael), daughter Jan Lavkulik of Lethbridge (husband Darren Tkach), and son David Lavkulik of Toronto (wife Dorothy Stavrinos) and her beloved cousin Lorraine. As well, she has 9 grandchildren, Sean, Paul, Rochelle and Heather Savard, Stephen, Rachel, and Andrea Tkach, Alexandra and Nicholas Lavkulik, and 6 great grandchildren, Yasmin, Kasiya, Darius Savard of Edmonton, Anna and Lila Hatch of Saskatoon, and Aavya Savard of Winnipeg as well as numerous other relatives including nieces and nephews.
Charlene will be greatly missed by all those who shared time with her. May you truly rest in peace now Mom. Love you forever. Amen
Memorial donations can be made to the Alzheimer Society of Lethbridge. 1202 2 Ave S #40, Lethbridge, AB T1J 0E3
To send flowers to Charlene’s family, please visit our floral store.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Charlene Gail Lavkulik October 30 1938 February 28 2022 (age 83)..
Death notice for the town of: Lethbridge, Province: Alberta