Obituary of Patricia Gail Schween

It is with love and gratitude for the life she shared with us that we announce the passing of our beloved mom, baba, sister & wife at the age of 80 years. Mom passed peacefully on Ukrainian Christmas Eve to join with loved ones who have passed on before her. Mom was pre-deceased by her parents, Peter and Margaret Krawchuk and husband Bruce Schween. Mom was born and raised in Winnipeg and grew up in a loving home in West Kildonan with her parents and younger sister Lois. Mom and Lois shared a wonderful childhood and a special bond. Just recently Mom said one of her fondest early memories were the times they spent on their Baba and Gigi’s farm in Osborne Manitoba with their cousins, Eugene, and Gerry Krawchuk. Mom and Lois were very close and growing up they shared many good times and made wonderful memories together. Lois said in their teen years there was a lot of Jiving to 50’s rock at the house and they used to sneak out for drives down to Skinners for dance nights. In the trying times, Mom and Lois always had each other to lean on. Together, they happily welcomed and celebrated each new little family member. There was always something to celebrate in our family and Aunty Lois and Uncle Bob hosted most of our large family get togethers and special occasions growing up. Mom attended Centennial Elementary School, Edmund Partridge Junior High and West Kildonan Collegiate. She met our dad, Harry Claydon in High School and they wed in 1959. They were the first among their friends to have their own place and there were a lot of gatherings and fun times there. They welcomed their two children, Debbie & Allan in 1960 and 1963. Mom used to love when Teen Dance Party came on the TV, and we’d dance it up. I feel like she would have liked to have been on that show at the time and she would have been great. She actually taught me how to Jive when I was a little older. There were many early trips to West Hawk Lake with their friends as well. Mom wasn’t very fond of camping, but she was okay to rent one of the CBC cabins and enjoy time on the beach. Mom still kept in touch with some of her classmates from school and they would get together from time to time to reminisce and make new memories. By 1967 Mom found herself as a single parent and worked as a cocktail waitress at high end nightclubs and cabarets in downtown Winnipeg during the late 60’s and early 70’s. These were exciting times, music, fashion, and general culture were quickly changing and Mom embraced it. There was always a new album, the Beatles, The Doors, The Rolling Stones, and of course Roy Orbison, available to play on the little stereo we had. With her lovely looks, charm, wit, charisma, and the way she carried herself in the various outfits she was assigned, from bunny tails and tutus to purple hot pants and white knee-high boots, she was a natural at her job and we never went without. She also seemed to spend a lot of time at the hairdresser, going from brown to blond and back again and getting her various hairpieces styled just right. Mom was extremely independent, resilient, and resourceful. When she had difficulty starting her little red Corvair in the cold winter months, she could usually get it going by sticking her lipstick case in the carburetor to get it to fire up. Seemed to work like a charm every time. Mom had to take on a lot of the dad duties as well and she was often seen in hockey dressing rooms, the only Mom along with all the other Dad’s, getting young Al’s skates tied up tight and cheering him on at all his games. Mom was also smart, motivated, and driven and decided to venture onto a new career path in 1973 and trained to become a Court Reporter. She first worked for the province and later freelanced for various Law firms. Mom loved her career and worked right up until she had to take a medical retirement in 2019, at the age of 77. She made lifelong friends at the province and loved gathering with the girls, especially Roberta, Doreen & Bev for Bridge Nights to share stories and lots of laughs. These ladies are like a part of our family and lovingly visited regularly with Mom to keep her spirits up. Mom said recently that these are the kind of friends you need in life. Mom’s success in her new career afforded her some financial ease and by 1975 she had saved enough to purchase our home in Valley Gardens, a lovely brand-new custom built at that. She married Bruce Schween in 1976 and we welcomed him and his three boys, Michael, Bruce, and Wayne into our family. Now, having five teens all between the ages of 14-17, was a very busy, fun, never boring to say the least household, and Mom took it all in stride and made it all look easy. She also knew how to keep us all in line with just ‘the look.’ She welcomed all our sport mates, dream dates, friends and stragglers and there were always good times to be had, music, beer in the fridge and card games on the go. She was a regular at the Community Club and was always cheering on the boys at their hockey, football, and baseball games. She especially enjoyed the road trips with the other parents. Mom was also an avid Bomber fan and held seasons tickets for several years. She and Bruce would also travel to Saskatchewan for the Labour Day Classic and even took us all along one year. They bought a small motorhome and enjoyed road trips out east and to the states occasionally. They even allowed us to borrow it from time to time, and for the most part, we returned it in relatively good shape. She also enjoyed cheering on the Jets and was especially pleased when she won a signed Jet’s jersey at her Grandson’s social in the later years. Bruce fell ill in the early 1980s and passed away in 1986. Mom took very good care of him during this difficult time, and she missed him dearly after his passing. Mom continued to busy herself with work and family and you could often find her late into the evening typing out an expedited transcript in her home office, or seated in her comfy chair, reading a book, doing a crossword or beating the contestants on Wheel of Fortune. She was happy to have the love and company of Al & Mariska staying with her during this time and it helped tremendously to brighten her day. In 1994 Mom and her sister Lois decided to take up line dancing at a local pub where she met her loving partner, Jim. Mom and Jim have had twenty-eight wonderful years together. They enjoyed getting out to dance and play poker around town. They took trips to a few of the casinos around the province and the States. They even made it to Las Vegas. They enjoyed a night out for The Blues at the High and Lonesome every so often too. They enjoyed hosting and entertaining friends and family. In the summer you could find her relaxing in the beautiful backyard flower garden that Jim made and lovingly tended for her. There was always music playing in the yard, blues, rock, country, you name it, and thankfully the neighbours didn’t seem to mind the daily Ukrainian music hour too much either. They took loving care of each other always and when Mom’s health deteriorated, he was determined to keep her home and look after her needs for as long as he could. When Mom finally had to make the move to Park Manor Personal Care Home recently, Jim was at her side daily, keeping her spirits up. Moms greatest joy were her kids, grandkids and great grandchildren and she would light up when the little ones came by to visit. She taught the older grandkids how to play poker and Rummoli and could be found teaching the girls how to line dance in the kitchen. She often attended and cheered the grandson’s on at their sporting events as well. The last movie she asked me to take her to was Bohemian Rhapsody and she sang along to We are the Champions in the theatre. I mean, how could she not know the words, she had heard them repeatedly at all the sporting events she attended over the years. Mom passed on some lovely recipes as well as her fancy sandwich, perogy, holopchi and borscht making skills. Mom always looked forward to when we could all gather together for some of her wonderful meals and backyard Bar-b-ques, often needing to adjust the date several times to ensure we could all be there together. She loved to cook for us, and guests, and she was a wonderful hostess. She always set a beautiful table but rarely sat at it, instead running dishes back and forth, despite our pleading for her to sit down and let us take over. She also kept our Ukrainian traditions alive, and we will strive to keep them up in her memory. She was a beautiful person, an amazing daughter, wife, mother, baba, sister, and friend. Our love for her will always shine within us as we continue to follow the example, she set for us. Mom was incredibly proud of all of us, and she made a point of telling me that in her final days. Left to cherish wonderful memories are her partner Jim Shalansky, daughter Debbie Devaney, son Allan Claydon and daughter-in-law Mariska Claydon. Grandchildren, Jayson Devaney, Tyler Devaney (Lisa) Taryn Bird (Mike), Kristen Sawchuk, Corey Claydon & Cassidy Claydon Great grandchildren, Jack, Piper, Ava, Norah, Hannah, and Charlie. Sister & Brother-in law Lois & Bob Chartier. Niece, Michelle (Mike) Watson and family. Nephews, Michael, and Chris Chartier (Marie Klassen) and families. And many other dear nieces, nephews, and cousins. We would like to thank all the staff at Park Manor PCH for taking wonderful care of Mom, you were all very lovely to her and us. In accordance with Mom’s wishes, cremation has taken place and no formal service will be held. A private celebration of Mom’s life will take place in her lovely garden this summer. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Children’s Hospital Foundation. Your wings were ready, but our hearts were not. Lovingly remembered until we meet again on the other side of the stars. Vichnaya Pamyat