Obituary of Gloria Holzman-Maximuik
It is with sadness and love, the family of Gloria Holzman-Maximuik (nee Weber) of Yorkton announce her sudden passing on October 2, 2024 after a brief battle with cancer. Gloria Jean was born in Yorkton on February 11, 1945 to Henry and Marie (Stumph) Weber. She was the fifth of eight children and was raised on the family farm. Her early school years were spent at Glasgow School to which she would arrive by horse and buggy or sleigh. Living on the farm came with many chores including collecting eggs, milking the cows, hauling wood in to the house in winter and in summer stocking and weeding the large garden. One of her earliest jobs was working for her teacher Mrs. Donald Morrison doing chores after school. Once she completed her education, she worked for various families in Yorkton housekeeping and caring for seniors. Gloria then moved to Regina to work at the General Hospital for 2 years.
She met the love of her life, Henry Holzman known as Hank, while babysitting for her sister Shirley. They were married on June 28, 1963. They welcomed their first daughter Shelly in 1964, then Jacquie in 1967. She lovingly referred to her little daughters as “my two Barbie dolls”. Gloria worked a long side Hank on the farm, hauling grain and driving the combine, which she loved. Gloria always had a large garden on the farm and many preserves were made and shared with family and friends. Many happy times were spent fishing, camping, dancing, spending time with family and following her daughters’ adventures.
In 1975 Gloria started back in the work force at the Yorkton Hospital, starting in laundry and remaining there for 13 years, before moving on to the Medical Device Reprocessing Unit for 12 years, and finally as an activity aide at the Yorkton District Nursing Home until she retired. Her loving Husband Hank passed away in 1987. This was a hard and difficult time for Gloria as she remained on the farm.
In 1989, she started dating a longtime friend, Clifford Maximuik. Gloria and Cliff travelled many places together including Reno, Lake Tahoe, enjoyed a Caribbean Cruise, many trips to Kamloops and Kelowna, and travelling to different parts of the US. Cliff and Gloria were married on July 13, 1991. They stayed on the farm until the fall of 2007, when they moved to Yorkton. Following retirement in 2009, Gloria remained active as a volunteer at the Yorkton District Nursing Home and for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church as a hospital visitor. She also enjoyed painting and after retirement cleaned houses for relatives young and old. Gloria also was a member of the Yorkton Horticulture Society and enjoyed bowling where she met many wonderful friends.
Gloria started curling in the 70’s with her sister Shirley and various teammates in a competitive league travelling across Saskatchewan. Later Gloria curled with sisters Shirley, Donna and daughter Shelly with the high light of winning the Yorkton ladies bonspiel in 1990. Gloria had the best time curling with sisters, Donna, Shirley and June in the Rhein Ladies Bonspeil spending time at their mom Mary’s in between games. Other favorite pastimes were keeping up with high fashion, watching curling on TV, writing in her diary, reading and playing games on line with her friends and sisters and keeping us all straight with our “Weber family history”. Gloria loved entertaining and cooking and so many were blessed with a special meal or cocktail she would whip up! Cliff and Gloria enjoyed many years of camping at Lake of the Prairies and recently at Burgis Beach. Family and friends were a big part of Gloria’s life and she gave selflessly to help anyone in need. Her children, six granddaughters and newest great-grandson, Henry, were the joys of her life.
Gloria was predeceased by her parents, first husband Henry, her siblings Shirley Lutz, Donna Hyshka and Donald Weber, daughter-in-law Sheila Maximuik, brothers-in-Law George Lutz, Joe Simon, Russel Matycio, Norman Dickie, Ernie Oblander, Jack Shaler, sister in law Alma Shaler, nephew Kevin Lutz and niece Lynne Stopanski. She leaves to cherish and honor her life her husband Clifford Maximuik, daughters Shelly (Dean) Westberg and Jacquie Holzmann (Kevin Novakowski), stepson Gary Maximuik and stepdaughter Sheri (Ben) Messina; granddaughters Sami and Taylor Maximuik, Paige (Brad) and Sarah (Chace) Novakowski, Carly (Lance) Schmidt, and Avery (Stu) Poulin and great grandson Henry Poulin,; sisters Dorothy (Gus) Steberl, June Dickie, Linda Matycio and brother Warren (Linda) Weber, sister in law Barb Weber, brother in law- Boris (Colleen) Hyshka, and special friend Cindy (Bill) Witherspoon, and numerous special nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and many friends.
Prayers were held on Monday, October 7, 2024 and the Funeral Service was held on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, both from the Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre, with Doreen Day, Certified Celebrant officiating. Soloist Cheryle Zorn sang “One Day at a Time” and “Amazing Grace”. Cindy Witherspoon read scripture. Gloria’s granddaughters gave a tribute to their grandma. Shelly Westberg and Jacquie Holzman delivered the eulogy. Dee Dee Walker read words from Gloria. Honorary casket bearers are all those who shared in Gloria’s life. The interment followed in the Yorkton City Cemetery with Taylor Maximuik, Sami Maximuik, Avery Poulin, Carly Schmidt, Sarah Novakowski and Paige Novakowski serving as casket bearers.
Memorials in memory of Gloria Holzman-Maximuik may be made to Brayden Ottenbreit Close Cuts for Cancer (23 Bull Crescent, Yorkton, SK S3N 3Y5) as gifts of remembrance.
