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Who knew a thick winter coat would result in a hockey legacy?
Mary Guzda (née Feculak) was born in 1922 and raised in what was the Village of Brooklands, before it amalgamated with the City of Winnipeg.
Mary lost her mother when she was young — but before she died, her mother bought her “a long, heavy winter coat.”
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“The boys in the neighbourhood asked her if she would be their goaltender, as the puck would not hurt when it hit her,” her family writes.
“Because of this background, she has had two professional and one up-and-coming goaltenders in the family.”
The pros include her grandson, Brad Guzda — who played for various minor-league teams between 1994 to 2002 — and her great-grandson Mack Guzda, who was signed by the NHL’s Florida Panthers in 2022 and currently plays for the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers.
Mary, who died on Aug. 23 at the age of 102, volunteered and was part of the William Hall Ladies Club, the Holy Ghost Church Ladies Club, and other committees in Brooklands.
She loved gardening, knitting, and, her family says, was “an exceptional cook being especially noted for her cabbage rolls.”
Even in her final year, Mary was known for her bingo skills, playing four cards herself while helping people seated around her with theirs.
Mary was predeceased by Alex, her husband of 63 years, and is survived by two sons and a daughter, six grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
Read more about Mary.
How They Lived
Pat Puchniak was a talented pianist, singer and teacher who loved sharing her music.
Pat, who was 88 when she died on Aug. 21, was a member of the Sweet Adelines chorus in Winnipeg.
She inspired generations of music students through her teaching, her choirs and her performances.
Long after Pat retired, she was still playing piano regularly at her retirement residence.
She also skydived at 84 and was “flower granny” at her granddaughters’ weddings.
Read more about Pat.
Rita Cropo was born in Belgium, raised near Treherne, and studied nursing under the Grey Nuns at the St. Boniface School of Nursing fresh out of high school.
Rita, who was 87 when she died on Aug. 29, was a scrub nurse during the first open-heart surgery at St Boniface Hospital.
She continued nursing for decades at Health Sciences Centre and the Grace Hospital, retiring as the latter hospital’s assistant coordinator in the emergency room.
Rita later volunteered as a Goldwing at Winnipeg’s airport and at FortWhyte Alive.
Read more about Rita.
Jim Bear was a respected Indigenous leader.
Jim, who died on Aug. 27 at 79 years of age, served 11 terms as either chief or councillor of Brokenhead Ojibway Nation.
He co-founded the Southeast Tribal Council and the first Indigenous Junior A hockey club, and he helped form the First Nation School Division.
He also was longtime chairman of the Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation.
Read more about Jim.
Two prominent figures in the Métis music community left us in August.
Paul Desjarlais was known as Big Al in the community.
Paul, who died on Aug. 26 at 72 years of age, worked in Winnipeg’s parks department for more than a decade before deciding to follow his passion for music.
He began touring the country with Len Henry and Good Co., before heading his own award-winning groups the Al Desjarlais Band and Trapline.
Paul won what is now known as a Manitoba Country Music Association award in 1984.
He stepped away from full-time music in the 1990s. While he ran Elsie Bear’s Kitchen at the Manitoba Métis Federation, he would occasionally return to the stage.
Read more about Paul.
Ted Longbottom was a songwriter, performer and recording artist.
Ted, who died on Aug. 28 at 62 years of age, recorded two albums and performed in festivals and concerts across the country.
His music was also featured on CBC, APTN, PBS, and the Discovery and History channels.
Read more about Ted.
A Life’s Story
Isaac Gotfried was a survivor of one of history’s worst chapters.
Isaac, who died in February just shy of his 100th birthday, was living in Poland when the Second World War broke out.
Soon the teen endured forced labour and concentration camps.
Isaac Gotfried was 90 years old when he met with a group of students from Alberta participating in the Asper Foundation Human Rights and Holocaust Studies Program and visiting the CMHR. (Ruth Bonneville / Free Press files)
After the war, Isaac and his brother were the only survivors of their family of seven.
When Isaac retired, he devoted the rest of his life to talking to people about the horrors of the Holocaust. His family estimates he spoke to more than 25,000 children and adults at schools, museums and conferences.
“What I learned most from him is to live your life well, no matter how hard it’s been,” said his daughter, Irene Shapira.
“He overcame so many obstacles, and he was never bitter or angry. He always looked forward.”
Read more about Isaac’s life in our weekly Passages feature.
Until next time, I hope you continue to write your own life’s story.
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