Christmas Letter 2015 To the Pitura/Petura Clan

November 23, 2014 – December 10, 2014: Biggest Tragedy in our Family’s Life!

It happened in Fountain of the Sun, Mesa, Arizona. Mom fractured her hip getting dinner ready in our condo.

It was a normal afternoon, about 72 degrees, sunny – we enjoyed the group of Social Seniors 10th Hole. After golf and home for dinner, Mom just went down on the carpet, unable to get up, even on a chair. Our neighbours, Jim and Shirley Grindberg, assisted in calling an ambulance to get Clara to Vista Mountain Hospital for x-rays and procedures.

Decision was made and Mom’s wish also to air ambulance to HSC in Winnipeg for surgery. Nov 23rd, next evening, Medipac Insurance arranged a Leer Jet to Winnipeg in less than 3 hours. Mom was home with family attending, ready for surgery and recovery to follow with prayers. About the hip fracture surgery – all went well in Dr. Graham’s assessment. Family support and Corie with Mom at and after surgery on Nov 25th. Clara’s therapy was at Seven Oaks Hospital from Dec 1 to 5 and home to Norman Park for further recovery with family attending.

Dec 10th Clara had an appointment with Dr. Graham to x-ray and remove the staples. Dr. commented that “Your Mom has healed very well.” “Hip is like new”. Cheryl, Barb and Carl attended. 3 hours later – 911 called – emergency to Victoria Hospital – all the efforts of ER and Prayers We lost Mom …… an pulmonary embolism!

Our attending family was in total shock! How could this happen so quick – from a healthy person – only time in hospital was having family ( 5 children) – to be taken away so quickly. Back to Fountain of the Sun, Mesa – Clara and Carl left so quickly, the condo, food and car left in the hands of the neighbours to take care of.

Clara’s funeral was Dec 15th at 10:00 am at Trinity United Church with Rev Millie Malavsky and Avonlea United Church Choir – message of “hope” by song and word and family tributes. Christmas 2014 was not “Merry”. Family gatherings were hurting, empty and sad! How could this happen so quickly ? What went wrong?

Our “Family Chapter” of Life came to an End! Clara and Carl were blessed with 63 years and 27 days of togetherness and our family members 21 in all. Clara’s birthday was January 13, 1931 and she would have enjoyed 84 years. The Captains’ Chair at our table is Empty! She’s gone!

“You can remember her only that she is gone – or you can cherish her memory and let it love on!” Following couple weeks were like STONE! Family, as they were able, would stay an evening or weekend with Dad, as you know, it was not easy! Discussion followed about Dad – does he grieve in Norman Park with all around winter or does he grieve with friends in sunny Arizona ( over 20 years). Interesting, in the process, a conference all from Jerry and Joann Flanigan, neighbours in Mesa, and their support made the decision for Carl to return to Mesa to heal and try to move forward.

Jan 16, 2015, daughter Corie and Carl flew West Jet to Arizona – 3 hours 15 minutes – not easy without Mom. Next 12 weeks, family support in visits with Dad were gratifying – alone a total of only 4 weeks out of 12.

Return to Norman Park in April 2015 – was not easy! We enjoyed the location for over 19 years. Prior to Clara and Carl had talked about downsizing – arranged to see a unit in the Canoe Club – liked the layout and a 9 foot granite island – we purchased it – Regrets….. Mom never moved in and was unable to enjoy.

Carl now resides at 208- 401 Dunkirk Drive, Winnipeg – senior retirement facility. Carl was blessed with a 90th birthday on May 28, 2015. Cheryl , Craig from Calgary and Barb and Calvin hosted a family dinner at the family farm which was enjoyed by all!
Our Christmas Message

May you all enjoy the Best of Health and a Peaceful Holiday Season with family and friends and be Thankful. May God Bless! Until we meet again!

Love, Clara’s Angels and Carl F. Pitura

Sold the house, left our jobs…now the adventure begins.

 

Paul & Lisa Pitura have been on quite the adventure! Check out their blog:

https://lisaandpaulpitura.wordpress.com/

Agnes Pitura - Celebration of Life

Agnes Patricia Pitura 1916-2015

AGNES PITURA It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother, Agnes Pitura on April 5, 2015, aged 98 years, at Lions Manor Personal Care Centre in Winnipeg. 

She was predeceased by her parents, Albert and Caroline Kosoir; husband Stanley; her sisters, Betty Johnson, Wanda Dryden and Clara Pitura. Left to cherish her memory are her children, Patricia Reschke, Barry Pitura and Valerie Harasym (Gerry); and her sister Helen Manness (Sidney); and her brother-in-law Carl Pitura. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Christine Enns (Danny), Darrell Reschke (Diane), Debbie Reschke, Alison Zulyniak (Jason), Keith Pitura (Jaime); 10 great-grandchildren, Hayley Legault (Adam), Laura Foxon (Wayd), Erin Audino (Mike), Danielle Enns, Mitchell Reschke, Eric Gallo, Kyler Zulyniak, Brayden Pitura, Abrielle Zulyniak, Tessa Pitura; and four great-great-grandchildren, Ryder, Peyton, Kinley, Adelynne Legault and several nieces and nephews. 

Agnes was born November 30, 1916 in Winnipeg. She started her schooling in Winnipeg, but moved to the farm in Osborne in 1921, where she finished her schooling. Married to Stanley in 1937 and lived on the farm at Domain. She worked for the Red Cross group formed in Domain knitting socks, mitts, sweaters, and quilts. She was a member of the United Church Women and received her life membership from the MWI on June 14, 1972. 

Mom was an excellent cook and baker, winning several awards at local fairs. She also had a beautiful garden with peonies and gladiolus as her favourites. She has instilled in her family the traditions of her Polish heritage. They retired from the farming in the fall of 1978, moving to Winnipeg. They enjoyed their retirement travelling to Florida, Hawaii and Arizona. Since 1985, she has lived on her own until July 2011, when she entered supportive housing and in the last few weeks, Lions Manor Personal Care Centre. 

A celebration of Agnes's life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, April 10, 2015 at Thomson "In the Park", 1291 McGillivray Boulevard. The family would like to extend their appreciation to the staff at Lions Manor Personal Care Centre, 4th floor for their compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Avonlea United Church in Domain. Mom had a long and full life. Rest in peace. THOMSON "IN THE PARK" 204-925-1120 Condolences may be sent to www.thomsoninthepark.com

2014 Christmas Letter

{ Note: This letter was written by Carl prior to the sudden passing of Clara. }

To the Petura / Pitura Clan,

Once again it is a privilege to be in touch with our family members. In our senior years we feel life speeds up - even though the days have the same number of hours and the weeks are still seven days long. Days that used to drag by - are over in a "Flash"! When life is good we wish we could hit the hold button, such as special events with family and friends, birthdays, and sunsets, etc.

We are both in good health, along with our family we give thanks. We celebrated Thanksgiving Dinner at our condo. We enjoyed blessings on our table - our condo can seat 12-13, a touch tight, usual tradition with every family member bringing a dish.

Also the next day, October 13, Clara and I celebrated out 63rd Wedding Anniversary - with gratitude - the road of life has been good to us! What a blessing! Clara should receive an award!

Clara has been introduced to an iPad from daughter Cheryl, and not with today's technology is able to send short messages with the touch of a finger - with no limits, and photos. Really exciting!

A note about our winter escape - we look forward to one more year! The past 24+ years we would drive 1900 miles taking about 27 hours on the highways. Our family voted to drive the car with 5 1/2 months of living (clothes, golf clubs, etc) to Arizona. Corie and Don have offered and now our journey is changed to 3 hours plus 2 hours at airport. It is an easy lifestyle - over the years we have made many friends in the community golfing, church, and great fellowship, and of course Arizona Sunshine!

Our Christmas Message:
May you all enjoy the best of health and a beautiful and peaceful holiday season with family and friends, and be thankful. May God bless!

'Till we meet again. Love,
Clara & Carl F. Pitura

Also please read Carl's article - Past Patient Pays Tribute To Vic Oncology Team For Clean Bill Of Health (pg 3). http://www.vgh.mb.ca/foundation/documents/TheVicNewsletter-Issue6.pdf

Clara Nellie Pitura 1931-2014

CLARA NELLIE PITURA (nee KOSIOR) Suddenly, on December 10, 2014 Clara passed away in Victoria General Hospital surrounded by her husband Carl and family, from complications during recovery from hip surgery.

Clara was born in the Grace General Hospital on January 13, 1931 to Albert and Caroline Kosior who farmed at Osborne, about 25 miles south of Winnipeg. Clara was the last of five daughters.

Two sisters survive Clara, Agnes Pitura and Helen Manness (Sidney) and predeceased by Betty Johnson and Wanda Dryden.

Clara attended public and junior high school in Osborne and being the youngest daughter helped her dad on the farm hauling grain at harvest and general duties. Attending school at Osborne, Clara met Carl who was a few grades older and at that time a friendship grew.

Clara and Carl were married on October 13, 1951 at Holy Trinity Church in Winnipeg and proceeded to help operate Pitura Seed Farms four miles North of the Kosior farm. Both having rural roots, they enjoyed the challenges of the day.

Clara and Carl were blessed with five children, Carolynne (John), Calvin (Barb), Cheryl (Craig), Corie (Don) and son Michael who was deceased at birth, grandchildren Katie, Sheena, Jenny, Vicki, Connor, Brenden, Caelyn and great-granddaughter Emma.

Clara's focus was her family, taking the kids to Sunday school, 4-H events, music lessons and sports. As the children grew to adults, Clara built strong friendships with each one. She was proud of Carolynne's accomplishments as an educator and Calvin's commitment to the family farm. She enjoyed visits with Cheryl through their many moves, and the daily phone call and support from Corie at 8:15 in the morning. Clara's greatest joy was sharing life with her soul mate, Carl, for 63 years.

Clara was an avid reader and later in life a talented artist. She loved having a beautiful yard and garden filled with peonies and roses. We will all miss her wonderful meals, especially her perogies and sticky buns!

Clara was a Seed Grower earning a Long Service Certificate, and as Carl was a director and grower as well, they both enjoyed attending Seed Grower functions across Canada, from Fort St. John, B.C. to Peggy's Cove in P.E.I. and making many friends.

Clara and Carl enjoyed winter escapes in the sun from Florida, Texas, Hawaii, and settling in Arizona starting with a couple of weeks and later five and a half months since 1984. Clara and Carl also enjoyed a tour of Europe and Poland to search some family roots.

Clara enjoyed golf with ladies leagues and fellowship continuing up to a few weeks ago with a fun day with friends at Fountain of the Sun Country Club.

Clara was a member of Avonlea United Church in Domain, Manitoba, and recently attending Trinity United Church in Winnipeg, as well as Velda Rose United Methodist Church in Mesa, Arizona during the winter months.

Clara had a wonderful life that ended too soon. We will miss her.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, December 15 at Trinity United Church, 933 Summerside Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba. All are welcome to remain for a reception after the service. Interment will follow at Avonlea Cemetery in Domain. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba in memory of Clara or the Pitura Family Endowment Foundation at the Victoria General Hospital or the charity of your choice. THOMSON "IN THE PARK" 204-925-1120 Condolences may be sent to www.thomsoninthepark.com

The Tradition of Tradition

Stemming from five generations back, in the historic country of Poland in Eastern Europe to the city life of a family in Western Canada, there’s a family who’s striving to preserve their heritage. Interestingly it doesn’t involve fancy, state-of-the-art technology or the latest app. It’s founded in flour and water, some potatoes and cheese, around a Christmas tree, with lots of laughter and reminiscing.

A family tradition is like a well-worn but welcoming quilt. Enveloping, warm, and comforting. Cocoon yourself in tradition and see what transpires. Whether a tradition is lived out in the family room or kitchen, you’re creating a museum of memories for your loved ones.

That’s exactly what the Pitura/Manness family has done for five generations, touching on two continents and involving hundreds, perhaps thousands of doughy little morsels. Yes, it’s the humble, but mighty perogy. This family has built a Christmas tradition around the perogy, the staple of every good Polish kitchen.

It began with Clara Pitura’s mother who was an avid perogy maker. Clara says she had no desire to learn this Polish culinary dish, but there came a point in her life when she had to step into the kitchen to learn on her own. She mastered cheese and potato perogies as well as the always-delightful saskatoon and blueberry ones that came out of her loving kitchen for her family.

Continue reading the entire story here: http://www.dotemagazine.com/the-tradition-of-tradition/

Granny's Perogie Receipe: http://www.dotemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Perogies-Recipies.jpg

1911 Census of Canada

I have found 14 entries with the name Pitura / Petura in the 1911 Census of Canada. This census includes nine provinces - Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan, and two territories - the Yukon Territory and the Northwest Territories; and seems to be the first Canadian Census that the name Pitura / Petura appears.

The families listed on the first 2 documents are accounted for in our family tree. The remaining one is no not. Please leave a comment if you have any information.

1) Manitoba, Dauphin - 16 - 53:

 

Listed: Jacko Pitura (head), Maria Pitura (wife), Sofia Pitura (daughter), Anastazya Pitura (daughter), Martall Pitura (son), Apolonia Pitura (daughter), Rozalia Pitura (daughter), Amilia Pitura (daughter), and Josepha Pitura (daughter). 

John Petura was born in 1862 in the Village of Chorostkov, Husiatyn, Poland. He came to Canada in 1902, with his wife Maria, born in 1872, daughter of Eraz Bihun and Pauline Prostrileny. They settled in Ethelbert, Manitoba on the NE 1/4 22-28-22 donated by Mary's mother, Pauline Bihun. Several years later they bought NW 27-28-22. 

Here is the passenger list from when John, Maria & family left Poland and sailed on the Armenia from Hamburg, Germany on May 2, 1902 to arrive in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on June 13, 1902. 

John & Maria had a total of 10 children. They brought four children with them from Poland: Annie / Hannah born August 9, 1892; Frances / Franka born January 6, 1894; Sophie / Zoska born June 22, 1896 and Nellie / Nastia born in 1898. And had six children born to them in Canada: Lena / Penlenka, Elsie, Jessie, Frank, Rose and Michael. Rose and Michael passed away at an early age of diphtheria. 

Annie married Paul Bilowus, and later Peter Bohonos. Frances marreid Philip Rozik. Sophie married Michael Plawicki. Nellie married Nick Moroz. Lena married Stanely Pilat. Jessie married Michael Sawicki and later Andy Lutzyk. Elsie married John Wasyluk and Frank married Anne Medwid. 

John passed away in 1948 at the age of 86 and Maria in 1950 at the age of 78. They are burried at the Mink Creek Cemetery. 

This is also another example of the Pitura / Petura name change game, and how there were many different variations of spellings and misspellings on documentation. For fun, here are how the names changed through the years: 

Jan Pitura --> Jacko Pitura --> John Pitura --> John Petura 

Maria Bihun --> Maria Pitura --> Maria Petura 

Anna Pitura --> Hannah Pitura --> Annie Bilowus --> Annie Bohonos 

Fronka Pitura --> Franka Pitura --> Frances Rozik 

Sosia Pitura --> Zoska Pitura --> Sofia Pitura --> Sophie Plawicki 

Nastja Pitura --> Anastazya Pitura --> Nastia Pitura --> Nellie Moroz 

Michal Pitura --> Mikoly Pitura --> Martall Pitura --> Michael Petura

Apolonia Pitura --> Polly Pitura --> Palenka Pitura --> Lena Pilat 

Rozalia Pitura --> Rose Petura 

Amilia Pitura --> Aniela Pitura --> Elsie Wasyluk 

Josepha Pitura --> Josefa Pitura --> Jessie Sawicki --> Jessie Lutzyk 

Franek Pitura --> Frank Petura

2) Manitoba, Winnipeg - 24 - 89:

Listed: Paul Petura (head), Barvara Pitura (wife). 

Son of Tomasz Pitura, Paul and Barbara first came to Winnipeg and lived on Aberdeen street, then had four sons of their own Peter, Walter, Michael and Joseph in McMunn, Manitoba.

3) Ontario, Algoma East - 54 - 25:

Listed: Mayk Petura (head). 

Christmas Message

To the Pitura/Petura Clan,

It is indeed a special time this Christmas as Clara and I look back on the milestone events of the past year of our lives.

We feel it is a privilege and even a duty to be in touch with family members of the Pitura/Petura Families since  our first family “Roots Gathering” in Winnipeg in 1995. It seems almost unbelievable that through our Pitura  Family Web Site we can instantly be together. Thanks to this technology!

Firstly, we are both in good health. We give thanks for this and our extended family are well and busy ---- our first Great grand daughter is on the Big School Bus and is off to school already. Emma is 7 years old!

Secondly, Clara and I celebrated our 60th Wedding Anniversary in October. We enjoyed a reception dinner and fellowship with twenty five family and guests. Previous to this in September, we hosted a family dinner in Calgary for family members unable to attend in Winnipeg because of work schedules and travel costs.

Further, to the occasion, Carl and Clara received congratulations from the following; the Prime Minister of Canada, Hon Stephen Harper, the Governor General of Canada, David Johnston, the Lieutenant Governor , Hon Philip S. Lee, the Premier of Manitoba Greg Selinger and a number of other officials. This was not expected and indeed a surprise. We were honored and humbled to receive these presentations.

Also as a note of interest, Clara’s eldest sister Agnes Pitura celebrating 95 years and second oldest sister Helen Manness, 91 years, attended our celebration. What a Blessing!    

We write this Christmas letter from Arizona, this is our winter escape and our second home in Fountain of the Sun Country Club in Mesa Arizona. Our first visit was in 1984 for a couple of weeks with brothers Frank and Doris, Stanley and Agnes, and Walter and Myrtle. We were all together in Holiday Village for a time visiting and enjoying Happy Hours! 

Our Christmas Message - May you all enjoy the Best of Health and a beautiful and peaceful Holiday Season with Family and Friends and be thankful! We live in a Great Country - May God Bless…..Till we meet again.

Love,
Carl and Clara

Note: Carl F. Pitura is the last surviving family member and son of Paul and Sophie Pitura of Winnipeg, Manitoba who immigrated to Canada from Poland in 1901. He is not referred to as the Patriarch of the Pitura Family.  We give thanks again!

Agnes Pitura Celebrates 95 Years!

Agnes Pitura celebrated her 95th Birthday with family on November 27th at her new residence, The Rosewood, in Winnipeg.

Agnes Patricia Kosior was born Nov 30, 1916 to Albert & Caroline Kosior, and is the eldest sibling to four sisters, Helen, Elizabeth (Betty), Wanda (Mick), and Clara. On October 16, 1937 she married Stanley Pitura, son of Paul and Sophie Pitura, and raised 3 children, Patricia (Pat), Barry and Valerie, on their farm in Domain, later retiring to Winnipeg, where Agnes has lived since.

Agnes with her Children

Valerie & Pat with Agnes. Missing: Barry

Agnes with her Grandchildren
Agnes has 5 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren; with more on the way!

Agnes with a few Nieces and Nephews

Sisters

 Helen Manness with Agnes.

Your loving family wishes you happiness, health and much love on your birthday. Happy Birthday Agnes!