Jane Urbanovitch
Peacefully, in her sleep, mom passed away on Saturday June 1st at the age of 89 in Summerland BC. Mom was born on her parent’s, Alexander and Lena Sparks, homestead in Morse Saskatchewan but was raised primarily in the North End of Winnipeg, the melting pot of the Prairies, a fact she was quite proud of. She was an accomplished cello and mandolin player with the various symphony orchestras in Winnipeg. She grew up in the robust times of the 30’s and the war years, loved to sing and dance the big band tunes and worked both at Eaton’s and as a cocktail waitress much to the chagrin of her father. In 1946 she met a tall dark and very persistent RCAF airman from Dauphin, marrying Peter and following him from one Department of Transport posting to the other across Canada and having six children along the way. The city girl moved from all the luxuries to a wood cabin without running water in Teslin Yukon, learning to cook on a wood stove, bake bread and be a pioneer. They met many people along the way and have friends across the nation after living in Whitehorse, Sioux Lookout, Winnipeg, Rivers, Armstrong, Neepawa and Dauphin before finally retiring to the Okanagan in the late 70’s. Mom was very community minded and started cub and scout troops in Armstrong, going on to leading cub packs in Neepawa and Dauphin for 25 years, retiring as District Cub Master and awarded the Boy Scout Medal of Honour. She petitioned the government and organized the immunization of school children in Armstrong during the polio epidemic in the mid 50’s. She was involved in curling and bonspiels and many community events and groups such as Lionels, Sunday school, etc. She was awarded the Opal Medal for her commitment to the Canadian MS society as well as the sacrifice she rendered in caring for her son Mark who suffered many years with this affliction. Mom was very interested in current events and hockey and could and would argue with the best on these subjects until the end. Many a hockey debate in our family included mom and her grandsons. All who knew her remember her as feisty and didn’t need to guess what she was really thinking about any subject being discussed. Mom was very proud of the accomplishments of all her family.Mom is survived by her sons, Peter (Pepper) and Michelle of Cawston BC, Timothy and Lois of Onanole MB, Bob and Iris of Summerland BC, Todd and Joanna of Kelowna BC and her daughter Jill and Jergen of Fort Saskatchewan AB. She has 12 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Peter and son Mark. At the Grand Howl tonight, the Old Akela calls our DYB DYB DYB (do your best) and all the Wolf Cubs respond, we will DOB DOB DOB (do our best). Providence
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