GALE KAROLYN POPOWICH Obituary

GALE KAROLYN POPOWICH attended Sisler High School in Winnipeg, MB. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Gale Karolyn Popowich.

Graduation Year	Class of 1966
Date of Passing	Jan 16, 2009
About	GALE KAROLYN POPOWICH Peacefully, in the early morning of January 16, 2009 Gale Popowich, dearly beloved wife of Richard Michael (Mike) Davies, and loving mother of Sam and Emma. Also remaining forever to cherish Gale's memory are her mother Betty Popowich; sisters Donna Wladyka, Brenda Stiff, Sharon Popowich; brothers John and Jim Popowich (Margaret); Emma's partner Denis Prieur, and mother and father-in-law Shirley and Derwyn Davies; brothers and sisters-in-law Dylan Davies (Lisa), Huw Davies, Rhiannon Davies (Dennis), Gwyn Davies, Dan Davies (Jennifer Redston), Mari Jackson (Robert); and many many nephews and nieces, good friends, and colleagues. Gale was born in Winnipeg, but, being the daughter of a soldier, her childhood was spent all over Canada and in Germany. She spent 35 years as a primary teacher with the Winnipeg School Division, meeting Mike, her student teacher, during her very first year of teaching. For the next 40 years Gale and Mike shared a life together that was an endless adventure in choosing new things to do, and in figuring out how, and then doing them. Gale loved teaching and in her second year met her good friend Donna Lyons. Their long supportive Sunday night phone calls covered all topics. With friends Donna and Sharon she took a 40th birthday trip to London, England. Adding their friend Geri, they repeated the trip for their 50th. Gale began her love affair with Italy when she and Mike celebrated 30 years together by visiting Florence, Rome, Venice and Milan. Visiting Emma at university in France, trips to Wales and spending a year on exchange in Scotland provided the icing on the cake of a life that was already deeply satisfying. Gale took early retirement from teaching and drew up a new five year plan. She worked part-time at the new Millennium Library when it opened a job she also loved. In retirement she spent four enjoyable months in Italy, travelled to Spain with Emma and to Greece with her sister Donna. After the diagnosis of kidney cancer she spent even more time talking with her two librarians, Sam and Emma, and with Mike, just being together. Gale had the life she wanted, full of love and happiness. At Gale's request there will be no funeral service. Friends are asked to remember Gale as they saw her last happy and cheerful. Many thanks to Gale's health care providers over the years, Dr. Kyeremateng and Bev, Dr. Koltek, Dr. Broderick, Dr. Gingerich and Cheryl at CancerCare and all the wonderful staff at CancerCare, Seven Oaks and Health Sciences Center especially the emergency departments. In addition, deep gratitude to all the staff on Riverview 3E. No flowers by request. If friends so desire, donations may be made to CancerCare Manitoba or Cancer research. MAKE A DONATION TO CancerCare Manitoba Foundation As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 19, 2009