Obituary of Mary Belak

Mary Belak nee Usipiuk was born in the Krezny area of central Saskatchewan and moved into the town of Wynyard after marrying George Belak from Kandahar / Quill Lakes area. Mary and George (deceased) had five children and are pre-deceased by her first child Bobby in his preschool years and last born MaryAnne lost in infancy in Dawson Creek, BC ; as well as her son Richard , Dawson Creek who passed in February of 2018. Mary and the family also lost her beloved foster son Alexander Lawrence LaGlace in Dec. 2018. She is survived by her son Roger aka Kaleb Belak of Wynyard Sask. and her daughter Marilyn Belak of Dawson Creek. She is also survived by her younger siblings Brother Fred Usipiuk , BC and Sister Sophie Felbel, Manitoba. Mary and George moved to Dawson Creek in the late 50's to join her brothers Fred Usipiuk and Harry Usipiuk and her sister Anne Benedictson in their quest for a better life for their families. The Benedictson cousins Vern, Cliff and Charlotte became as close as our siblings and have always been a great joy to her. George got a job at the Northern Alberta Dairy as he had been milkman and cream taster in the Wynyard Dairy. Mary spent many years cleaning houses and mostly being an old fashioned housewife but after her kids left home worked in Ella Day's Daycare . She loved being out of the house and part of the working women of Dawson Creek. They were totally active in the Seniors Bowling - Mary finally donating all her trophies back to the club when she left Rotary Village for the Manor - and we must thank the Seniors Bowlers who were a second family and whom I witnessed when in her late eighties with worn out knees how they helped her get up to the lane where she still could roll a ball. The support of this network and the floor curling, crib playing Seniors Hall friends was a joy to witness and sustained her beyond her abilities to walk to the hall with her walker and join her friends. Thank you Dawson Creek seniors. In her Rotary Care Home drawer I found the change purse that held her senior's hall Bingo winnings - nickles, dimes , quarters that testify to a life well lived :) Thank you to the ladies who drove her to bowling and church. Mom lived a long and joyous life of hard work and hard play with family and friends. Her humble house was filled with celebration and generosity where the highs and lows of life were fully experienced ~ most often around the kitchen table and spilling into the yard and huge vegetable garden. Mary and George enjoyed camping with her Sister Anne and Sam Benedictson, Spud and Alma Naslund, son Richard Belak and Cynthia (nee Holem, deceased) as well as various family and friends who would join trailer expeditions around the Peace Country. She loved visiting my family at our Beach Cabin on Atriveda reef and accompanying her son-in-law Peter Boronowski on his early morning fishing forays - although she was terrified of the ocean boat trips she didn't want him going alone and she loved cleaning, eating and canning the salmon with him. Mary's favourite people from the time of their birth are Grandchildren Michael Boronowski (Helen Hopkins) and Petra Boronowski ( Mark Hoosein) Fortunately she lived by Frank Ross School where the kids went to French Immersion and they visited her at lunch time often bringing friends. I now understand sometimes she just kept them home in the afternoons - a secret kept by them all until Petra's wedding when she told me! The testimony to her love of them is their wonderful relationship and witnessing the joy on all sides when they trek'd up north to visit GG - as she is affectionately addressed. ( GreatGrandma) She also taught them and their spouses to be great pyrogie makers from which I benefit hugely! These last years, the joy of her life are the Great Grandchildren who loved to be held in her gentle embrace and many visits were spent chatting and playing crib while kids slept for hours in those arms, xo. At Rotary Care home she loved having GreatGrandkids Lucy Boronowski and then Paul Hoosein practice piano on 3rd floor while the smaller kids Viktor Boronowski, Isolde Boronowski and Ryan Hoosein played shuffleboard with lady residents whose interactions were totally charming to witness. Everything she did was inclusive and has taught all generations of our family to share whatever small talents or gifts we posess openly and wholeheartedly. We have never visited her without her thanking us, kissing us and telling us we are beautiful. Dear Beautiful friends of Mary whom I am sure I have missed in this brief accounting of a long and complicated life ~ please leave your memories and feel free to contact me at any time. Thank you Rotary Care Home Workers for your good hearts and good care. In respect, daughter Marilyn Belak xo A celebration of life will be held on Tuesday, July 30, 2019 at 2:00pm at Rotary Manor. Service 2:00 pm Tuesday, July 30, 2019 Rotary Manor 1121 90 Avenue DAWSON CREEK, British Columbia, Canada