Alice Peech

Alice Peech, age 96, passed away in Country Meadows Personal Care Home Neepawa, MB on December 28, 2025 with family at her side. Born on July 26, 1929, in Oakburn, MB to Alex and Maria Hrytsak. She was the youngest daughter of thirteen siblings. Alice attended school at Oakburn until age 17, at which time she accepted a permit teaching position in a country school at Seech, MB. It was there that she met John Peech. They were married on July 17, 1948. Together they started their life on the Peech homestead at Seech. Four years later, after the death of her father, they moved to the Hrytsak homestead at Oakburn, where they farmed and also cared for her mother and sister Teklia. They would reside at Oakburn until retirement in1987. After retirement, they moved to Neepawa,MB. Her husband John of 71 years passed away 2019. After the sale of her home, she lived with her daughter Glennis and son in law Murray Black until she moved to the Shoal Lake Morley House Care Home, followed by Country Meadows Personal Care Home Neepawa. With age and health declining, her final years of life were challenging. She was always a woman with vitality and drive and this period of her life was not always “Golden”. She bravely endured the challenges with some understanding but also sadness.

She dedicated her life to her husband, family, church and friends. Her children were her pride and joy. They were blessed with four children; Olia (Ron Jesson), Glennis (Murray Black), David (Jo-anne Kalechyn) and Darlene (Robert Zurbyk); Grandchildren Terah (Mike McClain), Alicia (Trevor Dowd), Leah (Glenn Miller), Tom and Carisa (Parker), Jonathon (Erin Smith), Kayla (Tyson Gillis), Braden and Reiss Zurbyk. She was very fortunate to have developed a relationship with her ten great-grandchildren; Jaidyn, Evan, Jasper McClain; Cole, Greg, Miles Miller, Brielle Dowd, Jase, Barrett Peech and Ivy Zurbyk.

Alice was small but mighty. There was never an “I can’t” in her vocabulary. She would tackle any task she would encounter. She was tenacious and determined to do whatever task was at her hand. She could cook, sew, garden, remodel. The standing family joke was her annual house painting project. She was teased that the house was insulated by paint. After retirement, she self taught herself to play an organ. She could not read music but played by ear. She enjoyed being the church organist at the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Neepawa. She had an alto voice that enhanced any choral she was part of. She created intricate “korovail” (braided bread), enhanced by tiny perfectly made doves. They were proudly displayed at the grandchldrens’ weddings. Her garden had dual purpose. It was a life long hobby but also provided her with bountiful vegetables which were canned and frozen.

She took great pride in her Ukrainian heritage. She celebrated the customs, holidays, music and traditions of her culture and proudly shared it with her children. She loved to host family celebrations. You were always welcome at her home and you never left hungry. The smell of fresh baking in her house was the norm. As customary, you had to always enjoy “a shot” before you left. Music played an important role in their home. Ukrainian music or Andre Rieu was always played in the background.

She will be deeply missed by all who knew her but her legacy of love, kindness, generosity and strength will live on through her children and grandchildren. We will carry her memory in our hearts forever.

Funeral service for her will be January 8, 2026; 1:00 pm at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church, Neepawa, MB with Fr Jay Korban presiding. Internment to follow in the Riverside Cemetery, Neepawa, MB with a luncheon to follow at the Neepawa  Legion.  Donations can be made to Country Meadows Personal Care Home (Activities)P.O.Box1240, Neepawa, MB; R0J 1H0

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