Adele “Della” Jesmer Obituary
Obituary of Adele “Della” Rose Mary (Sawicki) Jesmer
Return to Ted and Della Jesmer’s page
On November 10, 2023, in Winnipeg Manitoba, Adele “Della” (Sawicki) Jesmer passed away peacefully holding the hand of her daughter, Karen. She was 92. Della was born on June 8, 1931, near Bield Manitoba to Leon John Sawicki and Emily (Dobranski) Sawicki. She was born into a farm-family where she had seven, half siblings and a brother, Ed. It was an active home where everyone spoke Ukrainian and English. There were large meals. Ed played the fiddle. They loved polka music and Ukrainian weddings. The family attended the Roman Catholic church where young Della won a bible for bible verse memorization.
The family farmed in Bield until 1948 when the moved to Valley River, north of Dauphin. As a teenager, Della moved into Dauphin. She worked odd jobs, visited relatives, and attended dances in surrounding towns. She had a lot of dignity, always dressing well. She was close to her mother, Emily, who moved to Dauphin after becoming a widow.
Several of Della’s siblings had moved to Toronto. In 1963, they encouraged Della to come there also. Della decided to go, but first she had to make a trip to Thompson, to say goodbye to her brother, Ed Sawicki, who had recently transferred there with INCO Metals. She would stay for a short time, taking a job at a lunch counter and enjoying her brother’s family with two young nieces. The time approached for Della to leave, when Ted stopped her in her tracks saying, “You can’t go because you will be marrying me.” They were married on December 7th, 1963. Immediately, they built their family. First came Kevin in 1964 and then Karen in 1965.
Della’s career began with managing the Thompson Co-op Store in 1969. They operated out of a basement until 1970 when it moved into a double trailer. Later, it moved to a building at 32 Nelson Road. Della managed the store through each transition. She had never been a manager before and had a grade eight education, but agreed to do it for a short time. Well, that short time turned into two decades! She did a wonderful job managing a store with five full time employees and hundreds of loyal members.
Della enjoyed cooking and hosting her brother’s family on holidays. She spoke two languages, English and broken Ukrainian. Della loved to garden and had a great work ethic. She loved good times with friends at socials and liked to swim. The family went on distant camping trips. She introduced her family to her Roman Catholic faith.
Della and Ted retired in 1991 and moved to Winnipeg. She was happiest with her grandkids. They set up swings, wading pools, and their motorhome for them. They took the grandkids swimming to the city pool and surrounding beaches.
Della was very caring. She and Ted had the names and birthdates of every grandchild on a list. They never failed to send birthday and Christmas gifts. Loving and serving her family was one of Della’s joys of life.
Della and Ted kept busy in retirement. They danced at “Old Time” dance gatherings. Della loved it! They camped around southern Manitoba with the Good Sam Club. They regularly drove to Illinois to visit their grandkids. They went on several international trips, like Cuba (twice), Columbia, Venezuela, Thailand, and Ireland. They were able to drive the Alaskan Highway.
In her final years Della become weaker. Ted took good care of her. After Ted’s passing in 2020, Della needed skilled nursing care. In the end, dementia took its toll. She passed away peacefully Nov 10, 2023. Della was the last of her generation.
Left to mourn her passing are her children, Kevin Jesmer (Julie) of DeKalb Illinois and Karen Landon of Winnipeg. Della has seven grandkids, Jennifer Fulford, Augustine Jesmer, Sarah Jesmer, Hope Jesmer, Mark Jesmer, Britney East, and Zack Landon. Della would have been thrilled to have met her first great-grandchild, Corrie Fulford, who was born this September.
We give our thanks to the nursing and support staff at Riverside Lion’s Estates and the Golden West Centennial Lodge run by the Salvation Army. An interment will be made at a later date at the Glen Lawn Cemetery on Lagimodiere Boulevard in Winnipeg Manitoba. There she will rest in peace alongside her husband, Ted.
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