Obituary of Emmy Barbara Milenkovic
A life:
Emmy Barbara Milenkovic (Laturnus)
August 2, 1925 to September 26, 2018
Emmy Milenkovic, of Regina (and formerly of Swift Current), died on Wednesday, September 26, 2018.
Emmy Milenkovic had many life experiences.
They began in the Soviet Union (Ukraine) in a territory that was settled by Germans. Emmy was born in Langenburg in 1925 where she lived with her family under the cruel rule of Stalin. There, with her parents (Magdalena and Andreas Laturnus) and eight siblings (Pius, Lydia, Eugania, Marie, Andrew, Aloysius, Elvera and Nicholas), she suffered through the terrors of that regime.
Throughout WWII the family walked from their home, through Europe, and finally reaching West Berlin, with the assistance of many strangers along the way. With the ending of the war they reached a transit camp near Hanover, Germany – what we now call a refugee camp. In the first week she met our father, Miodrag (Dragi) Milenkovic, a young Serbian soldier who, like Mom, loved to dance. And dance they did – tangos, waltzes, cha, cha, cha. A fairytale beginning.
In 1948, the Laturnus family was sponsored to travel to Canada. It was a difficult journey aboard a ship that crossed the Atlantic, and without two of the adult children – Lydia and Eugania – who had been taken back to the USSR by the Soviets. Eugania died on that journey but a reunion with Lydia finally happened in the early 1990s. Miodrag and Pius were left behind as their paperwork was not complete. In time, they too joined the family.
Life in Canada began through the kindness and generosity of strangers and family. Mom was welcomed into the family of Wendall and Margaret Laturnus – her cousin and his wife – as she awaited the arrival of Dragi. He came in early March 1949, they married and celebrated the birth of their first daughter, Marylen. Regina became their first home. The Kleins – strangers to our parents - helped Dad – a tailor by trade – to purchase his first sewing machine so that he could earn some money. These acts of kindness were foundational in the generosity of spirit that would become embedded in our family life.
Diana was born in Regina, and then the family moved in 1952 to Swift Current, where two businesses were purchased along with Emmy’s brothers. Many a newcomer graced their home, where beds were offered, and parties were given. Three daughters – Carmen, Rita and Michelle – were born there and the family carved out its place in the community. The house was always filled with music and parties where the carpet was rolled back, and the dancing could begin.
Emmy spent the first twenty years as a homemaker extraordinaire. She oversaw the creation of the family wardrobe, planted large gardens, and cleaned house continually, as only a German hausfrau could. The fruit room was filled with canned goods, homemade wine and sauerkraut. Dad and Mom created sewing projects together, making us quilts, Christmas tablecloths and placemats. Mom did numerous needlepoint pictures and crocheted afghans.
She supervised our music lessons, with diligence and intensity. Singing for Mom was more challenging than singing for an adjudicator. Along with our grandfather, she taught us that “ein bißchen” vodka was the best throat preparation before singing in the music festival.
As the daughters reminisced we all agreed that her greatest gift was her willingness to help someone in need. We witnessed countless occasions when neighbourhood women would come to her table seeking support and validation. She could also pull out a dinner for ten if needed. Upon moving back to Regina in 1999, Mom continued to reach out to anyone who needed a friend.
When the youngest daughter, Michelle, was in school, Mom joined the workforce managing the women’s lingerie department at Woolworths/Woolco. She loved that job and was very proud of how clean and organized her department was. She learned a lesson in pay equity. All the men who ran departments were called Managers, while the women in the same positions were Senior Clerks. This difference in categorization translated into lower wages for the women and she saw it as a great injustice.
We spent a lot of time together as a family around the dining room table, eating hearty meals and playing many card games. While the extended family played Ponteix Rummy, whichever daughter was at home was relegated to making the “lunch” and keeping the younger cousins entertained.
Mom’s life sparkled with the birth of her grandchildren – Will, Cosanna, Luc, Devin, Emmy Kate, Sofia and Jamie. She welcomed blended family members Megan, Jeff and Lindsay into the family and looked forward to visiting with them. In her later years, Mom added children from the Serbian family into the family tent – Stefan, Thea and Dmitri. She willingly became Grandma to any child who needed one.
Mom nurtured our children, providing them with opportunities to explore the lake, climb the hill, and jump on trampolines. She loved outfitting them in clothes that she bought or made. She taught them how to play Ponteix and cribbage. These games, and the language developed around them, continue to make us laugh. Mom and Dad were proud of their grandchildren and shared life lessons with them. All were treasured and cherished.
Mom spoke many languages, although none quite perfectly, and loved to travel with Dad. They took many trips with Nick, Colleen, Elli and Jerry, returning home with tales of laughter.
Dad died in 2009 leaving Mom alone for the first time. On her 90th birthday the family gave her a bench in Wascana Park dedicated to both. She frequently visited it to commiserate with Dad. It is a place that centres our family and brings us peace and fond memories. In the last years of life, she was the recipient of attention and warmth, as many who once received, returned her kindness.
Emmy Barbara Milenkovic lived a good, long life. She is celebrated by: her daughters Marylen, Diana (Frank), Carmen (Ian), Rita (Mark), and Michelle (Russell); her grandchildren: Lucas, Cosanna (Lucky), Devin, Will, Emmy Kate, Sofia, Jamie, Megan (Alexander & Sam), Jeff (Tamara, Colten & Mila), and Lindsay; our Serbian family; her siblings and in-laws Marie (Ed), Elli (Jerry), Nick (Colleen), Heidi, Dorothy and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Do not be sad for us. Our mother lived life and while many moments were hard, many more gave her great joy. To you, dear Emmy, thank you for your love, your courage, your tenacity and your tenderness.
Family and friends are invited to come together to celebrate Emmy’s life! Funeral Mass will be held at Christ the King Roman Catholic Church, 3239 Garnet Street, Regina, SK, on Monday, October 1, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. Reception will follow at 3:30 p.m. at Skye Café & Bistro, (in the Saskatchewan Science Centre), 2903 Powerhouse Dr, Regina, SK.
Donations, in Emmy Milenkovic’s name, can be sent to the Kinsmen Foundation Inc (Telemiracle) at https://www.telemiracle.com/html/Ways-To-Help/donate-now/index.cfm or mailed to 2217C Hanselman Ct, Saskatoon, SK S7L 6A8.
