Adrienne Hrabarchuk

Adrienne was blessed to be born into a very large and wonderful family to start out her life. Growing up she may have been poor in “things”, but was rich in family, love and humor. Adrienne was especially close to her many siblings and cousins and maintained a dear relationship with them all throughout her life.

Adrienne lived most of her life in The Pas with a few years spent in Thompson. While growing up in The Pas she attended the Sacred Heart School, and completed her intermediate education at The Sisters of the Presentation of Mary Academy. Adrienne proudly graduated nursing from St. Boniface Hospital and often reminisced fondly of her time nursing in pediatrics both at St Boniface and The Pas.

In 1962 Adrienne married Gene and started a family to which she was blessed with four children. Adrienne moved on from her nursing career to prioritize her growing family. Always the supportive mom she shuttled the kids (day or night) and attended recitals, hockey games and PTAs. She happily put up with giggling girls during sleepovers, feeding extra mouths and sometimes played referee when the boys got a little rowdy – often telling them to “fight nice”.  Once the kids were grown, she became dedicated to the family business until her retirement.

Adrienne provided many years of service with the CWL and volunteered her time on Thursday nights to assist the Knights of Columbus bingos. After the chaos of working bingo, there was always a round or two of cards with family and friends to wind down.

She enjoyed bowling as part of the MLPH bowling league in support of her brother Marcel and spent many Tuesday & Thursday nights participating in ladies curling in Thompson and later in The Pas with family as her team mates.

Adrienne was a dedicated pianist who served many years as the church organist both in Thompson and The Pas. Adrienne’s joy of music was also reflected with her participation in various music festivals, concerts and singing with the Aurora Singers Choir, in which she can still be heard on the Aurora Singer Album.

Adrienne was always reading something and loved knitting, sewing and cooking. She was happy to share and trade family recipes to which she continuously added to her collection.

Adrienne was most at home at Clearwater Lake where she enjoyed bird & nature watching, and took delight in tending to her annual veggie garden and treasured heirloom peonies and roses. When she was able, Adrienne took pleasure in going on short nature excursions through the bush, boating to unpopulated shorelines and going on many fishing trips; all of which always included her family and friends.

Adrienne was grateful for her time spent traveling the world with Gene and having the opportunity to experience other cultures. She was always eager to share her stories of the fantastic places she had been and wonderful people she had met along the way.

Adrienne will be most fondly remembered for her welcoming hospitality to family and friends who would stop in at ‘the cabin’ at Clearwater Lake. She loved get-togethers and especially appreciated those that included good laughs and banter while sitting around the table eating good food, playing card and board games, and late-night chit chat sessions.

Adrienne’s life was always focused on her family. It brought her great joy to spend time with Gene, their children, grandchildren and loved ones laughing and making memories. A visit with the grandkids was always a special highlight. Taking time to enjoy the simple things in life was very important to Adrienne and the time spent with those you love is indeed the most precious form of currency.

Raise your glass in remembrance of Adrienne, a truly special lady. We celebrate Adrienne’s life and time we were gifted to share in making many happy memories and moments.

Adrienne is survived by husband Gene (they were one week shy of celebrating their 62nd wedding anniversary), Son Ron (Jennifer) and daughter Jo-Ann. Grandchildren Adrian and Corey, Kelly (Brandon), Laura, Colin, and Claire. Her brothers Remi LaFontaine and Gilles (Kym) LaFontaine. and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Adrienne was predeceased by her parents Eleanor and Arthur LaFontaine, Sons Bob and Blair Hrabarchuk, and her Brothers Louis and Marcel and Sister Elaine LaFontaine.