Inez Laureen Chaykowski
(Winkelmans)
passed away peacefully on May 23, 2005 after a courageous battle with cancer.
She will be forever remembered by her husband, Pete Chaykowski; sons, Tim (Christine Godfrey) Winkelmans, Mark (Janet) Winkelmans, Dennis Winkelmans, Luke (Tracey) Winkelmans; daughters Laureen (Darwin) Kereluke, Pamela Ballantyne and Gloria Winkelmans; stepson Randy (Brenda) Chaykowski; grandchildren, Paul Winkelmans and Amy Godfrey, Kimberly Winkelmans and Angela (Robert) Eaves, John Kereluke, Jacob Kereluke, Jared Kereluke and Joel Kereluke. Also left to mourn are sister Doris (Orest) Perry; brother Dennis (Dorothy) Gradin, sisters-in-law, Christine Friesen, Kathleen (Lothar) Wistoff and Nellie Peterson; nieces, nephews, cousins and countless friends. Many considered her to be their "second" mom.
Inez was born on April 8, 1933 on her grandparent’s farm, west of Hendon, Saskatchewan to John and Selma Gradin. Inez had two sisters, Edna (deceased in 1978) and Doris; two brothers, Dennis and David (deceased in infancy). Inez was predeceased by her parents, John, in 1988 and Selma, in 1991.
In 1953, Inez married her first husband, Phil Winkelmans of Richmond, BC. Together they raised a family of seven children, mainly residing in Victoria and Nanaimo. Inez’s family has always been the joy of her life. She always took an active part in their interests and activities.
Inez moved to Wadena in the early eighties and married husband Pete Chaykowski in 1983.
Inez had so many interests, from cooking, sewing, gardening, music, reading, and was an avid spectator of sports. She cherished being involved with her grandchildren and watching them grow up. She wrote that one of the things she learned in life was the importance of being available when needed and doing whatever she could in the right spirit to be helpful.
Inez became a born-again Christian thirty years ago and deemed it to be a wonderful experience that carried her through her spiritual journey.
A celebration of Inez's life will be held in Nanaimo in the near future with an announcement of date, time and place in the Nanaimo News Bulletin.