Obituary of Stella Zdzislawa Novak

With heavy hearts and tremendous sorrow, we, the daughters – Barbara Skladowski and Margaret Allen – sadly announce to the world the untimely passing of our beloved mother, Stella Novak. Our precious mother died of an undetermined cause of death.

“Mamo Kochana, we honor you by saying:

You were so loved and appreciated.

You were such a wonderful mother.

You were such a beautiful person.

You always listened with your heart.

You deserved the best of everything.

We loved you so very, very much.”

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Dearest Mother! We know with your outstretched arms up in Heaven, you are sending us your love in return.” In the same spirit of love,My mother would have wanted me to quote this sacred verse of scripture: “Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.” I Corinthians 10:24. Special honorary mention goes out to constable Stuart Buist who was very kind, gentle, and a blessing to my mother. An honorary mention also goes to member of parliament Mark Warawa, who, in 2017, delighted and honored our mother on her July 1st birthday with a commemorative certificate coinciding with Canada’s 150th birthday.

Her legacy would also remind everyone to remember the “Ten Commandments of Good Human Relations.” (She kept this clipping for many, many years and always wanted me to find a way to “get it out there.”)  It reads as follows:

Getting along with people might be just a little easier if you:

1. Speak to people – there is nothing as nice as a cheerful word of greeting.

2. Smile at people – it takes 72 muscles to frown, and only 14 to smile – it’s infectious.

3. Call people by name – the sweetest music to anyone’s ear is the sound of his/her name.

4. Be friendly and helpful – if you would like to have friends, be friendly.

5. Be cordial – speak and act as if everything you do is a genuine pleasure.

6. Be generous with praise – cautious with criticism.

7. Be genuinely interested in people – you can like everyone if you try.

8. Be considerate of others’ feelings – it will be appreciated.

9. Be thoughtful of the opinions of others – there are three sides to a controversy: yours, the other

fellow’s, and the right one.

10. Be alert to give service – what counts most in life is what we do for others.

Always remember, two things can be bad for the heart: * Running uphill * Running down people.

It is with the greatest sorrow that we announce the passing of Stella Novak on Jan. 22, 2019, a great and noble lady, who, due to health circumstances was bedridden for the past year in a long-term care facility. Stella, who was of sound mind and of great heart, was someone, who, in her solitude and daily silent prayers, focused on what really mattered. In her heart, it was always God first, and then love of family. Stella, not concerned of herself or her suffering, sought the help of a “Higher Power” – The Intercession of our Blessed Mother, “Our Lady of the Roses, Mary, Help of Mothers” to ask for continued aid to come to her immediate family. She also physically touched a real petal from the lilies blessed in Saint Anthony’s Basilica in Padua, Italy. “Per Antonium ad Jesum”. (Latin translation: Through Anthony to Jesus.)
Stella is deeply missed by her two daughters Barbara Skladowski and Margaret Allen; her three grandchildren Laura Gray, (Mike), Mark Skladowski, (Rudi), and Ted Allen, Jr.; two adorable great-grandchildren Anastasia Gray, age 2, and Emma Skladowski, age 15 months; her sister and brother-in-law Krystyna and Kazimierz Kurzawa in Winnipeg; niece Renata Rolston, (Ray), with their daughter Brittany in Sidney, BC; niece Joanna Richards, (David), with their boys Joshua and Matthew in Winnipeg, as well as many other relatives in Los Angeles and in Northville, Michigan. Her many friends in Winnipeg, Manitoba and distant relatives in Poland also mourn her loss. Stella is predeceased by her husband Adam, and her parents Stanislaw and Maria Ozog.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 20676 Fraser Hwy., Langley, BC on Wed. March 13, 2019 at 12 noon with interment following the mass at Langley Lawn Cemetery, 4393-208 Street, Langley, B.C. reception to follow at the Church Hall. Everyone welcome. Prayers and viewing will be held at St. Joseph’s on Tues. March 12, 2019 at 7 pm.