Obituary of Anne Mary Plaskonos

Plaskonos, Anne Mary (nee Teminski) It is with great sadness that the family of Anne Plaskonos announce her passing on October 6, 2014 at Lookout Ridge retirement home in Fonthill. Anne was a lifelong resident of St. Catharines, save for the last four years of her life when she and her late husband Emil moved to Fonthill as they became older. Born January 6, 1927 at the St. Catharines General Hospital to her parents Peter and Mary Teminski, she was the oldest of three children the couple had. Later additions were her brothers Joseph and Frank, who survive her. The Teminski’s had immigrated from Poland a few years before and had made George Street their home. Attending St. John’s Catholic School, and later St. Catharines Collegiate, Anne headed into the working world as a clerical worker. After working the Christmas season one year at the Post Office downtown to assist with the overflow of mail she in her words “just never left”. About this time she met her future life-long love Emil Plaskonos who assisted her in fixing the gears on her bicycle one day, and returned several days afterward to work on the mechanism. This innocent meeting led to a marriage of 64 years that ended with the passing of Emil in January 2013. The couple married shortly afterwards and settled on Currie Street, where they soon welcomed their only child Karen in 1947. Their early married years were happy ones spent with family and friends on frequent outing and parties at each other’s houses. Anne, Emil and their daughter relocated to their long time home on Preston Drive in the city’s north end. Here they moved into a brand new house in the new neighbourhood of Sunnyside where they lived for next 46 years. During these years on Preston Drive Anne had the chance to welcome many happy times and occasions such as the marriage of her daughter Karen to James Lee, then a young medical student at the University of Toronto. The succeeding years saw the birth of her three grandsons Gregory, Andrew and David, that brought much joy as they grew up only a few blocks away. Anne retired from Canada Post in 1983 to enjoy time with her grandsons as they went to school nearby and visited at lunchtime. Over the years the family enjoyed many holiday get togethers and occasions for which Anne spent countless hours cooking, one of her chief passions in life. Anne and Emil also enjoyed travel and over the years took many trips across North America and Europe, including Ukraine where Emil originally was born. As well gardening was another passion that she enjoyed with Emil as evidenced by their lush landscaping around their house. In later years they travelled less and spent more time at home enjoying the company of their late Schnauzer, Bentley. Soon after Anne welcomed her three great granddaughters - Shannon, Nora and Iris into the world. These three girls were her greatest happiness in the past 10 years. Anne is now reunited with her husband Emil, who she had missed terribly since his passing. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends who cherished the important part she has played in all of their lives over the years. Anne Plaskonos is survived by her daughter Karen Lee (James), brothers Joseph (Wanda) and Frank (Nancy) Teminski, grandsons Gregory (Carie), Andrew (Kathryn) and David (Tara), and great granddaughters Shannon, Nora and Iris. Visitation will be held at the GEORGE DARTE FUNERAL CHAPEL, 585 Carlton St., on Wednesday, October 8 from 7-9 p.m. Vigil prayers will be recited on Wednesday at 8 p.m. in the funeral home. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Alfred’s Church, 272 Vine St., on Thursday, October 9 at 11 a.m. Rite of Committal to follow at Victoria Lawn Cemetery. Donations in lieu of flowers to the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation are appreciated.