Dorothy "Dot" Katherine Grudeski

t is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dorothy Katherine [Howard] Grudeski at her Hudson Bay, SK. home July 22, 2020. She was 90 years old.

Dorothy[Dot] was born in Kenora ON. on January 14,1930. She was the second child born to Florence and Percy Howard. She had an older sister, Edith, and younger brothers Cyril and William. They lived in Keewatin, ON. until 1939 when they moved to Riding Mountain , MB.

Dot was an energetic and active person all her life. Her early schooling was in Keewatin ON. but continued in Riding Mountain and Kelwood, MB. She loved to play softball, skate on the little creek that passed through Riding Mountain or slide down a hill in winter on a piece of cardboard. She belonged to the Cotton-Ettes sewing club for three years. As she got older, she enjoyed attending box socials and barn dances.
On August 02, 1952, she married the love of her life, Leonard Grudeski. They bought a farm south east of Riding Mountain and lived there until 1962. That fall they sold the farm and moved to Redvers, SK. to help other family members run a hotel. They bought the Redvers Hotel in 1969 but sold it in the fall of 1973. That winter, they remained in Redvers where they curled, played cards and enjoyed life with many friends. In the spring of 1974, Leonard got a job with the Dept. Of Highways in Creighton, SK. where they rented a cabin at Mosher Lake. In 1975, they moved to Hudson Bay where Leonard continued to work with the Dept. Of Highways. Until his retirement in 1992, he worked on roads in summer and at the local airport in winter.
Dot’s main passion in life was growing flowers and a garden. Every year there were always lots of begonias, gladiolas, sweet peas and hanging pots. Inside the house, you could always find African violets and cacti. When they bought their new home in 1995, there was ample room for the planting of most vegetables plus a large strawberry patch. She always had many kinds of pickles and jams in her basement.
Dot and Leonard loved to socialize. They enjoyed going on lengthy fishing trips with friends or cross country ski with others. Their new home had a large basement that could accommodate many people. Some of their friends were musically inclined so there was always music for the many dances, anniversaries and birthday celebrations. Socializing was not limited to adults. Even though they had no children of their own, they took on the welcome role of adoptive parents and grandparents for some children of friends. Dot’s social life sharply diminished after Leonard passed away on March 10, 2010.

Over the years, Dot and Leonard travelled quite a bit. They enjoyed trips to Hawaii, Cuba, Las Vegas, Alaska and to many American states. Their last trip was to New Zealand and Australia.
Dot enjoyed playing cards, her canasta club, bowling, knitting, coffee sessions, helping out at St. Dominic’s Catholic Church and Sunday after church breakfasts with friends. She felt blessed by her long and relatively healthy life and the special friends and dedicated helpers that allowed her to live with a welcome degree of independence.

She was predeceased by her parents, Florence and Percy Howard, husband Leonard, brother Cyril and sister Edith Bamlett. She is survived by brother, William, many nieces, nephews and good friends.
Due to the Covid19 pandemic restrictions, a church service or graveside ceremony will be delayed to a later date. Expressions of sympathy may be made to Blair’s Hudson Bay Funeral Home Ltd. at blairsfuneralhome.com or White's Funeral Home, www.whitesfh.ca who were in care of the Private Graveside Service at Riverside Cemetery, Neepawa, Manitoba

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