It is with great sadness the family announces the passing of Veronica Gergatz on Tuesday night March 7th at 9:10 pm at the Arborg Personal Care Home. Veronica is survived by her sister Margaret, sons Steven (Marie), Otto (Ronnie), daughter-in-law Cheryl, Rick (Geraldine), and Rob (Colleen). Eleven grandchildren Kurt, Kevin, Keith, Michael, Bridget, Megan, Amy, Dana, Cole, Christy, and Amber, six great-grandchildren, Aiden, Jace, Kinley, Hayden, Eiki and Harlyn. Veronica is predeceased by her husband Frank in 2014, parents Agnes and Joseph Gulash, brothers Steve, Vincent, Tony, Joe, sister Anne, and son Leslie Gergatz. Veronica was born June 20th, 1931 in Parkerview, Saskatchewan and moved to Swan River with her parents six years later. On June 20, 1949, Veronica married Frank Gergatz of Riverton, Manitoba. In a new two story three bedroom home they shared with her mother and father in law and Frank’s younger brother Ernie, there they raised five sons, Steven, Otto, Leslie, Rick, and Rob. As a farmer’s wife, she did whatever was required to feed and clothe the entire family. Meals were an event to be witnessed as 10 people would scramble to eat around the large kitchen table. Bun days were very popular as the home-made bread just never seemed to last very long. Mom cooked and baked, and looked after the cows, pigs, and chickens. She had two very large gardens with everything from potatoes, peas, beans, peppers and of course the raspberry and strawberry patches. Whatever wasn’t eaten fresh was canned for use during the winter months. Mom and dad were always busy and there was always something to do. The boys learned very early that you never complained about being bored and had nothing to do as something was found very quickly. Holidays usually consisted of visiting the uncles in Swan River or the cousins in Melville and Waldron or hosting their return visit. Mom and Dad never traveled very much from the farm and if they did they couldn’t wait to get back home. Through these busy years, they became inseparable in the raising of their family and expanding the farm to meet the growing family needs. Mom always had good advice to give and would always look out for her boys. In 2006 Frank and Vera moved into the new Assisted Living Building in Arborg but continued to be involved in the farm and all their children’s and grandchildren’s lives. Dad passed away in September of 2014 and Mom lost her life partner and best friend. Now, they are back together again, as it was meant to be. The family would like to thank all the Arborg Assisted Living staff for all their help during her 10 years there as well as the Arborg Personal Care Home, Dr. Donnelly and the nurses and staff who attended to mom. Prayers will be held at the MacKenzie Funeral Chapel, 336 2nd Avenue in Arborg on Thursday, March 16th at 6:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 17th at 11:00 am at the St. Phillip Neri R.C. Church, located on the corner of Gislason and St. Phillip Drive in Arborg. A private interment will take place at another time. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the St. Joseph R.C. Church, Box 193 Riverton, Manitoba, R0C 2R0.


"She never climbed a mountain
She never swam the sea
But always watched out her kitchen window
For her husband back from the field
She never longed to travel
She felt no urge to search
Her longest journey.....one mile
On Sunday to the little Red Country Church
Longing to be by him
Missing him when he’s away
Back together now forever is the only way"