Peacefully at home after a short illness, Elizabeth Joyce Dirks died after celebrating her 89th birthday days before. Predeceased by her beloved husband Dr. Henry Dirks, her parents William and Mary Lewicki, Elizabeth is survived by her daughters Mary Husband (Jeff) and Janet Dirks (Howard Silver), grandchildren Samantha Vanderboom (Jake), Jillian and David. Elizabeth (Betty) was born and raised in Winnipeg’s North End, where her first language was Ukrainian.
A talented student, Elizabeth won the Governor-General’s Medal at Isaac Newton High School, then went on to study French at the University of Manitoba. She was awarded a bursary to study at the Sorbonne and lived in Paris from 1953-54. She was in the audience of the first production of Waiting for Godot and later in London, saw a rising young star—Richard Burton on stage in Coriolanus. Such experiences cemented her love for the arts.
When she returned to Canada, Elizabeth continued her studies and became a French teacher. In 1957, she married Henry, the love of her life. Together they shared 48 years of happiness, enjoying time spent with family, travel, books, art, opera, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and summers at Victoria Beach. Elizabeth was an active member of her church both in Winnipeg and Victoria, where she moved after Henry’s death and established a new life for herself.
A whiz at crosswords and Jeopardy and a voracious reader, she passed on the love of books to her daughters and grandchildren. She was a champion of public libraries all her life, especially her beloved Cornish Library, and was a teacher until the end, teaching English as a second language to new Canadians for several years. A true Christian in her faith and in her deeds, Elizabeth never judged others but was always welcoming and accepting. She will be remembered for her love, kindness, generosity and interest in others.
Numbers 6:24-26
The Lord bless thee and keep thee:
The Lord make his face shine upon thee,
and be gracious unto thee:
The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
In lieu of flowers, friends are encouraged to donate to the Mennonite Central Committee https://donate.mcccanada.ca/, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra https://my.wso.ca/donate/contribute1 , The Victoria Symphony Orchestra https://victoriasymphony.ca/donation/ or The Mustard Seed https://mustardseed.ca/donations/
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Condolences may be offered to the family below.
McCall Gardens
www.mccallgardens.com
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Elena
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Marilyn Simonsen Mary, Jeff and Family
With sincerest sympathy to you at this difficult time.
Marilyn and Kurt Simonsen
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Laurene Henwood Hi Mary & Janet,
My condolences regarding your Mom, Betty.
What an interesting life and living for a year in Paris.
She was such a lovely lady and her comments or questions in Ingrid’s Bible studies were interesting.
It was special to have her in the Hazel Merritt Mission group also.
It was so fortunate that you could be with her to help her.
I pray for you ladies, and it is a more challenging time than in the past because of the virus.
Sincerely,
Laurene
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Tim Cao Very saddened by the news that aunty Betty passed away, though knew this was coming, I still hardly accept it.
Sincere condolences to Mary, Janet and all of the family, and may Betty/Henry’s intrinsic beauty, grace, kindness, love and talents bless and nourish the family for generations to come.
Vivid memories throughout last thirty years, as if happened yesterday, could never vanish.
“Winnipeg is very windy in winter” she explained to the newly arrived Chinese scholar in Winnipeg 1988, who (I by then) had a limited level of understanding English, with her right hand raising to the face level and blowing mouth air through the hand surface.
Extremely kind, thoughtful and care to others, she was a lovely hearted human being whom I am very fortunate to meet.
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and Fort Garry church were the places she and Henry regularly visited for “spiritual food”. Their generous invitations to these gracious places meeting their wonderful friends, dinning at home and restaurants in major holidays and family events had my life filled with joys. Now filled with sadness with aunty Betty’s departure.
A happy reunion in Albany NY 2018, so glad it happened and many thanks to David for bring most of the family over. We all had missed Henry by then, now rest of us are badly missing you aunty Betty.
May God give her light, joy and eternal peace in the heaven.
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Wally Dirks My Cousins,
We are saddened by the news that Elizabeth passed away. I remember our visits to your home on Westgate and also to your parents cottage at Boundary Park as back to back neighbours. Elizabeth was a lovely lady not only as a cousin, but as a sincere friend. May God be with you.Wally Dirks and family.
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Elena Harrison Betty, my dearest friend!
Gentle and kind, sweet, lovely and gracious beautiful
radiant, strong and remarkable lady.I will alway remember our happy moments together
as we share our joys and laughters, sharing happy thoughts, memories, current events, families wonderful stories, and anything under the sun.I will always treasure you in my heart.
I miss you so much!
You’re in heaven now watching over us.
Godbless!Love, hugs and and prayers,
Elena
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Catherine L. Johnson St. Paul, MN USA Dearest and beloved daughters of your cherished Mom, Mary and Janet,
A shared message of blessings and gentle love to the precious daughters and grandchildren: the luminous ‘blooms’ of your Mom’s blessed love, elegant grace, welcoming love, kindness and courage.
I met your Mom – my privilege and my pleasure. Her countenance, her radiant presence, quiet strength and open heart was the garden in which you both were raised, attended to and,in turn, as daughters, sisters and women, offer each world you enter throughout your lives: integrity, the praise of beauty, truth-telling, radical empathy, etc.
The bright souls of your Mom and Dad (Grandmother and Grandfather) is in your heart, bone and breath – an eternal forever light that can never be extinguished and is their legacy as you live forward.
The grief is profound.
I know.Loving each and all with gentle wraps of my care and in the beauty of God’s mysterious ways,
Catherine L. Johnson
United States12 December 2020
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Mariam Bernstein Dear Janet and Mary,
I have many memories of your mother’s gentle kindness, her generosity, and her sparkling smile. My condolences to you both and your family; may your memories of her love bring you all comfort.
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Herbert and Wilma Poetker Condolences to Mary and Janet and families. We remember your family coming to FGMB Church for many years. Your mother was a most gracious kind and gentle person Blessings to the family.
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Alice Crawford My condolences to the Dirks family. I have warm memories of Betty. She was a very kind, warm and gracious person who was always interested in what you were up to. I remember her smile so well.
Betty and Henry were our neighbours for many, many years on Westgate. We were bookends to the Women’s Club as we called it back then. I remember their little black terrier who liked to visit our beagle in our yard.
Betty and Henry were good friends of my parents. I have vivid memories of them getting together for coffee and visit in each other’s homes. Betty and my mother would go to plays together from time to time.
Betty, Mrs. Blaschuk, a neighbour who lived across from us, and my mum would get together often for coffee during the 70s and 80s. They called themselves “The Golden Girls” after the popular weekly TV show. That brings a smile to my face.
I hope your memories of her will help you through this difficult time.
Regards, Alice Crawford
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Arthur Kroeker With Betty’s passing it marks the loss of one of the last links of a dedicated “small group” within the Fort Garry church in a long ago happier time. I have warm memories of both Betty and Henry and want to extend sincere condolences to Mary and Janet and families. Blessings, Art Kroeker
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Louie Sawatzky Our condolences to the family. My name is Louie Sawatzky and I am working with the Mennonite Benevolent Society in Winnipeg, with the Ukraine Ministry of the Mennonite Family Centre in Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine. I got to know Henry, your father well in his role as a Director of the Mennonite Benevolent Society and one of the founding members of the Ukraine Ministry. I knew how much this work meant to both Henry and Elizabeth and their love for the people of Ukraine. May they rest in peace. Louie
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Blair Philpott I am sorry for the loss of your mom, Janet.
For several summers, my day began with a walk to the Dirks home to join my car pool. I was greeted by Amy, the beloved family terrier and Mrs. Dirks who had a sincere interest in what I was doing and told me about the activities she was involved in. She was unfailingly kind and gracious. It was a lovely start to my day and a warm memory.
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Rosemarie Thiessen Our condolences to the daughters and husbands and grandchildren.
May God grant comfort and peace.
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Rosemarie Thiessen We send condolences to the daughters and the spouses and the grandchildren. May God grant comfort and peace.
Arni and RoseMarie Thiessen.
Janet and Mary and family,
I’m so sorry for your loss. Sincere condolences and
heartfelt sympathy for both of you and family.
Thoughts and prayers!
Godbless!
Elena