Louise Tenszen

Louise Ludie Tenszen

(nee Lezun)

In the early hours of Saturday April 1 2017, at the age of 88, and after suffering through a brief illness, Mom left us to be with our Dad Victor.

In mourning is her daughter Linda (Bill) Leonhart of Winnipeg and their sons Michael (Kathryn) of Portage la Prairie, and their children Ewan, Livia, and Alara and Mark (Stephanie) of Montreal, and their child Avery; as well as her son Brian (Grace) Tenszen of Winnipeg, and their children Nicholas (Manon) of Winnipeg and their children Anèze and Françoise, Bernita (Bobby) Mottola of Winnipeg, and their children Charlie and August, Carter (Sarah) of Winnipeg and their children Eva and Luca, and Ayla (Murray) Boyce of Lockport and their son Brixton.

Along with many nieces and nephews across Canada who join us in our mourning are some who, through the years, have made a special bond with Mom – Ron, Jeannette, and Joe Kostenuik of Winnipeg, Peggy Robertson of Welland, Bill Didur of Tsawwassen, Valarie and Bob Bakowski of Victoria, Barry and Larissa of Victoria, and Sonya and Peter Jackson of Gloucester, England as well as her sister-in law Bernice Dowhaluk of Portage la Prairie, and special “Portage friends” Mary Kohut and Adeline Pressey.

Mom was so much to so many people. To her parents she was a faithful caregiver, nursing them both through late-life illnesses. As a mother she made a great effort to encourage and support us as we grew up and taught us how to navigate through life. She was an eternal encourager, not only to us but to her grandchildren as well. As children she had us involved in music lessons, Girl Guides, Scouts and Ukrainian dancing.

Mom was an avid reader, and would often pass along a book she “…thought you might like…”. She enjoyed historical fiction mostly, but her interest also strayed into the philosophical. Mom lived by a quiet code that she had cultivated through her years – a code she spoke of little, but which she displayed through her love for people, and her walk through life.

After her passing, we found hidden in her bookshelf, a scrapbook she had made containing newspaper clippings, precious photographs, and handwritten quotes – creeds that Mom held dear, but allowed to shine through her life. This was one such prose:

The Symbols of Time

Take Time to read, it is the fountain of life.

Take Time to think, it is the source of power

Take Time to work, it is the price of success

Take Time to play, it I the secret to perpetual youth

Take Time to laugh, it is the music to the soul

Take Time to be friendly, it is the road to happiness

Take Time to give, it is too short a day to be selfish

And Take Time to love and be loved, it is a God-given privilege

All the family are extremely grateful to the wonderful care and love that the doctors, nurses, and aides at the Palliative Care ward at the St. Boniface Hospital bestowed upon Mom’s during her final days with us.

Funeral Service will be held at McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel on Wednesday, April 5, 2017 at 11:00 am with viewing prior to the service.  A private family interment will take place at Hillside Cemetery.

As expressions of sympathy, if friends so wish, donations may be made in Louise’s memory to St. Boniface Hospital Foundation - Palliative Care Program, 409 Tache Ave, Winnipeg, MB, R2H 2A6.

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