Karen Andrea (Duchnycz) Kopytko

Karen Kopytko, our mom, wife, Grandma, Great-Grandma and friend, passed away on March 18, 2022 at Riverview Health Centre Palliative Care Unit, with her family by her side. 

She leaves to mourn her husband, Joseph Kopytko, and her children, Marc Kopytko (Wanda), Corinne Howard (Kevin), Laurie Kopytko, and Shawn Kopytko (Twyla). Karen will be sadly missed by her loving grandchildren, Sheena (David), Shelby (Morgan), Jade (Bryce), Aspen, Braden, Ty, Taje, Kianna, Kayley, Trystan and Great grandchildren, Chloë, Bentley, Astyn and Jaxon. She also leaves to mourn two brothers, Ed Duchnycz and Murray Duchnycz. She was predeceased by her mother and father, Katherine and Andrew Duchnycz.

Mom married our Dad, the love of her life, at the age of 22 in 1965. In 2015 Mom and Dad retired to Portage la Prairie where they enjoyed each other’s company and their new, centrally-located home where their children and grandchildren could stop by to visit. Their great grandchildren loved having sleepovers with Grandma Karen and Grandpa Joe!

Karen was diagnosed with lung cancer in March of 2020 and with a strength and love for her family, fought a good fight. Mom has always been an inspiration, handling life’s ups and downs with a mix of grace and strength that was so truly her own.  We did not know how she did it sometimes but we all know what drove her was love. Love for her family, Love of life and all the good it holds and trust that love and faith will see her through. Whatever came she just kept moving forward, proving time and again that strength was beautiful especially on her.

We will always be grateful for the extra ordinary care and compassion from the Doctors and staff at Portage la Prairie Hospital, the doctors providing her care at Cancer Care at the Health Science Center and the staff at Riverview Health Center Palliative Care. To honor Karen’s request there will not be a funeral.  In lieu of flowers, please choose to donate to Cancer Care Manitoba