Donna Grace Mary Janet Pacholuk (nee Steer)

It is with great sadness we announce that Donna Pacholuk passed away at the Portage District General Hospital on April 25, 2023 at the age of 78 years.

Left to cherish her memory are her son Wil Pacholuk of Portage la Prairie, sister Beverly Steer of Osoyoos, BC, brother Jack Steer of Greenaway, BC,; grandchildren Brady and Brittany and their mother Evelyn; great grandchildren Dakota and Devin; nieces Jacqueline (Nick) McDonald and Leslie Steer, nephew Ronald (Songsee) Steer; great nephew Jead Steer.

Donna was predeceased by her parents John and Grace Steer, husband Bill Pacholuk, brother Lyall Steer, brother-in-law Harry Williams and sister-in-law Judy Steer and parents-in-law Mike and Katharine Pacholuk.

Donna was born in Ochre River, MB but was raised and received her education in Swan River.  After high school Donna went on to achieve her certificate in hair dressing from The Marvel Hairdressing School. Jobs were hard to come by in those days so Donna placed an ad in several newspapers around Manitoba looking for work.  A salon in The Pas, MB answered her ad and offered her a job.  Donna then moved up north to pursue her career, it was there that she also met her future husband.  From The Pas, Donna moved on to Thompson, MB where she continued to work in hairdressing and it was here where her son Wil was born.  Some time later, the family moved to Portage la Prairie.  Donna had an ongoing ad in the Daily Graphic advertising her mobile hairdressing services.  She continued on with this business for over 25 years and had many loyal clients over those years.

Donna and her sister Beverly travelled extensively all over the world with trips to Europe (England, Scotland, Ireland, France and Wales), Asia (China), Australia and New Zealand and Alaska.  She and Beverly met up with family members in many of those destinations and were toured around seeing many notable and some sentimental sights.   She loved and cared for her dogs Taffy and Teddy, she loved to knit, cross stich and paint ceramics.  Her home was dotted with all her homemade treasures.

Donna came by her stubbornness honestly as it was a long-engrained family trait.  Some may have thought of Donna as a stern person but she wore her joy in the inside even if it didn’t come across on the outside.  She lived a life of service; both professionally and personally, many people were blessed by her kindness over the years.

A graveside service will take place on Saturday, May 6^th, 2023 at 11:00 am at Evergreen Memorial Gardens.

As expressions of sympathy, if friends so wish, donations may be made in Donna’s memory to St Mary’s Anglican Church, 36 2^nd Street S., Portage la Prairie, MB R1N 2A1 or to Central Plains Cancer Services 318 Saskatchewan Ave E, Portage La Prairie, Manitoba R1N 0K8.

A tree will be planted in memory and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel.  204-857-4021 www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com