Karen Kwasnitza

In Loving Memory of

Karen Kwasnitza

In keeping with Karen's wishes, no formal funeral service will be held.

Karen May (Hill) Kwasnitza was born in the Lanigan Hospital on October 6, 1941. She attended a one room school, Loch Lomond, and later attended Lanigan High School. She went on to further her education by taking a one year nurses training at the Children’s Hospital in Winnipeg and later got a C.N.A certificate (L.P.N) and was sent to Wadena Hospital for a training program. This is where she met and married Steve Kwasnitza and together raised three sons: Murray, Curtis and Kerry Jay.

Her work at the hospital was very demanding but she was excellent at her job as many people would attest to. It was work she believed in. She worked there until retirement… over 30 years. After retirement she was still very active, working as an assistant librarian and volunteering at the Wellness Clinic. She was also a member of the local book club.

Karen loved making willow chairs and trellises and spent long hours at the farm looking for that perfect willow. An avid reader, there was always a book on the go, and if not reading, hand-written letters were being crafted. A clever wordsmith, nobody penned a letter better than her. She enjoyed Blue Jays games and always kept a log of all the players and positions. She loved Christmas eve dinner and you could always tell when there was half a glass of wine too much when she would give her rendition of Bing Crosby's White Christmas. Music was a big part of her life and it was not uncommon to hear jazz, rock n roll or her favorite Kenny G wafting through the house. Her main visitors were the gals (as she called them) from work. They would vent about their jobs, people, and life in general. It was a time when you knew to make yourself scarce! But mostly, she loved her yardwork. She spent countless hours maintaining the yard and garden at the house and the farm. Nobody worked harder than her, even after retirement.

Above all, Karen was a kind and caring person. She put others ahead of herself and was humble in victory and defeat. She played by the rules and was fair to everyone. She listened to people with a genuine interest and was always willing to lend a hand. She was a great mentor and buffer in our family and will be deeply missed by husband Steve, sons Murray and Curtis, granddaughter Jenna, and her friends and family.

Karen had a personal request for family and friends who want to remember her: celebrate in your own way, raise a glass of beer and clam, build a willow chair, plant a garden.

Rest in Peace.