Obituary for Sandra Lynn Toews
Peacefully at home with family by her side, Sandra Toews (Dynkavitch) passed away on August 5, 2020 at the age of 58. She was predeceased by her father John Dynkavitch, uncle Sonny Fedoruk, mother-in-law Cecile Toews and her grandparents. Sandra will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by her husband Bill, children Elizabeth (Ryan), and Matthew, grandchildren Jordan, Kaiden, and Logan, mother Donna Dynkavitch, brother Bill Dynkavitch (Carol), godmother Rosie Tressel, father-in-law Jake Toews, sisters-in- law Gwen Payonk (Greg) and Flo Toews, nephews and nieces Alex and Mike Dynkavitch and Zachary and McKenna Payonk and many other family and friends.
Sandra was born and raised in Winnipeg, spending her early years on Selkirk Ave and her teenage years in the Maples. She had an active childhood and loved to stay busy with activities ranging from dance to baton and competitive swimming. She made many memories camping and snowmobiling and made sure she passed those opportunities on to her own children. Sandra also spent cherished time helping her Baba at her restaurant: Rosie’s Inn on Arlington. While she loved and excelled at many things, Sandra held a special place in her heart for dance. Being accepted into Rusalka and travelling to Ukraine was a highlight of her younger years.
Sandra met Bill at Red River College where she took her Computer Analyst Programming course in 1979 and on September 18, 1982 they were married. She and Bill raised two fantastic children and built four homes together over the years. Sandra worked in many different industries including fashion, media, not for profit, insurance, aerospace, retail and banking but in each of these jobs she had the same goal: to help people solve a problem. She really found her love for IT consulting as the years went on and started her own consulting company in 2009.
After dancing with Rusalka for many years she continued to participate as an active member on the board as well as on the Alumni Committee.
Sandra loved to travel. She visited many places with Rusalka including the Ukraine, Italy, New Orleans (performing alongside Jim Carey and the Nylons), a highlight of the Italy trip was dancing for Pope John Paul. She did many road trips through North America but her favorite thing to do was get away on a Caribbean cruise. She spent countless weekends at the cabin with her family and later in life she loved hosting friends and family at her vacation home in Arizona.
Sandra was known to get things done (even on a deadline), and she was always ready to lend a helping hand. She will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by many.
A special thank you goes out to Dr. Kevin Coates, all the staff at the St Boniface Hospital, Cancer Care Manitoba, and all the wonderful homecare workers for their exceptional care and compassion during this time. Thank you also to all the family and friends that supported her through this past year.
Sandra loved the arts so when we are once again able to fill the theaters, please attend a show in her memory and keep the arts alive.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, Rusalka Endowment Fund, or Rainbow Stage.
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet: https://www.rwb.org/
Rusalka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble: https://rusalka.mb.ca/
Rainbow Stage: https://www.rainbowstage.ca/
Sandra’s Celebration of Life will take place on Friday August 21 at 2:30 pm. at Rainbow Stage in Kildonan Park 2015 Main St. Winnipeg. Seating will begin at 1:30 pm. Parking is available in the lot to the north of Rainbow Stage. Please come early and assemble with the people in your family unit so that we can seat you together. Covid protocols ie. Social distancing is required. A Covid Screening questionnaire will need to be completed upon arrival at Rainbow Stage. It would be appreciated if attendees would wear a mask to help us keep our friends and family safe.
“Dance on Mom”
The Heavens are now your stage.
Sandra was born and raised in Winnipeg, spending her early years on Selkirk Ave and her teenage years in the Maples. She had an active childhood and loved to stay busy with activities ranging from dance to baton and competitive swimming. She made many memories camping and snowmobiling and made sure she passed those opportunities on to her own children. Sandra also spent cherished time helping her Baba at her restaurant: Rosie’s Inn on Arlington. While she loved and excelled at many things, Sandra held a special place in her heart for dance. Being accepted into Rusalka and travelling to Ukraine was a highlight of her younger years.
Sandra met Bill at Red River College where she took her Computer Analyst Programming course in 1979 and on September 18, 1982 they were married. She and Bill raised two fantastic children and built four homes together over the years. Sandra worked in many different industries including fashion, media, not for profit, insurance, aerospace, retail and banking but in each of these jobs she had the same goal: to help people solve a problem. She really found her love for IT consulting as the years went on and started her own consulting company in 2009.
After dancing with Rusalka for many years she continued to participate as an active member on the board as well as on the Alumni Committee.
Sandra loved to travel. She visited many places with Rusalka including the Ukraine, Italy, New Orleans (performing alongside Jim Carey and the Nylons), a highlight of the Italy trip was dancing for Pope John Paul. She did many road trips through North America but her favorite thing to do was get away on a Caribbean cruise. She spent countless weekends at the cabin with her family and later in life she loved hosting friends and family at her vacation home in Arizona.
Sandra was known to get things done (even on a deadline), and she was always ready to lend a helping hand. She will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by many.
A special thank you goes out to Dr. Kevin Coates, all the staff at the St Boniface Hospital, Cancer Care Manitoba, and all the wonderful homecare workers for their exceptional care and compassion during this time. Thank you also to all the family and friends that supported her through this past year.
Sandra loved the arts so when we are once again able to fill the theaters, please attend a show in her memory and keep the arts alive.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, Rusalka Endowment Fund, or Rainbow Stage.
The Royal Winnipeg Ballet: https://www.rwb.org/
Rusalka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble: https://rusalka.mb.ca/
Rainbow Stage: https://www.rainbowstage.ca/
Sandra’s Celebration of Life will take place on Friday August 21 at 2:30 pm. at Rainbow Stage in Kildonan Park 2015 Main St. Winnipeg. Seating will begin at 1:30 pm. Parking is available in the lot to the north of Rainbow Stage. Please come early and assemble with the people in your family unit so that we can seat you together. Covid protocols ie. Social distancing is required. A Covid Screening questionnaire will need to be completed upon arrival at Rainbow Stage. It would be appreciated if attendees would wear a mask to help us keep our friends and family safe.
“Dance on Mom”
The Heavens are now your stage.