Donna Lynne Sheculski (Lynne), born August 28, 1946 in Timmins, Ontario, passed away in the early morning of August 17, 2023 in Red Deer, Alberta at the age of 76. She leaves to mourn her daughter, Tymmarah (Doug), grandson Eric (Kim),granddaughter Veronica (Derek), and great grandson, Steele; her son Jacob, her sister Wendy (Hannu), brothers Ted (Donna) and Glenn (Maria), sister-in-law Brenda, and nine nieces and nephews, as well as her Aunt Dollie. She is predeceased by her parents Edward and Evelyn Sheculski and brother, Gord as well as many beloved aunts and uncles.
Lynne was known in Timmins and Northern Ontario for her music. She sang in the Timmins United Church Choir and received several music festival awards. She was part of the folkduo “Buddy and Lynne” where she and Buddy (George) Eckford sang at school assemblies and around Northern Ontariocommunities. They had a weekly radio show on Sundays and there is a recording of them singing at the 1964 Kirkland Lake Hootenanny (See https://shorturl.at/nwAC3). Tymmarah, Eric and Veronica had the opportunity to record some of these songs with Lynne on her 70th birthday. Eric attributes his love of music and involvement in his bands to her and Veronica sings the folk songs to Steele at bedtime every night.
Lynne’s love of folk music, and arts and culture enriched her family’s lives and those in the many communities she lived in Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Alberta. She established the non-profit organization, “Allegro”, in Grande Cache in the mid-1970’s to bring arts and cultural groups to the new community, and would invite acts back to her home after a show. In Fort McMurray she was a Beaver leader for Jacob’s pack, and sewed yards of sequins and fringe on Tymmarah’s dance costumes, and drove her around Alberta and Newfoundland to many dance competitions.
She was a one-of-a-kind, authentic woman known for her outgoing and quirky personality and sayings. In the 60’s she wore a fur coat that she named “Ralph”. You would be greeted by a happy “cheers” when she saw you, hear “encore” when emphasis was needed, give an “ok” sign when she really liked something. and she would often throw the peace sign at you when saying goodbye. If she didn’t like something you might hear “Hit the road, Jack”.
She was a great cook and baker; known as the neighbourhood mom who made the best chocolate chip cookies. Tymmarah and Veronica have special memories of making perogies with her, and a family tradition that will carry on is making Tourtière every Christmas Eve. Lynne loved to sew and do needlework. She sewed her own and kids’ clothes, stuffed dinosaurs for Jacob, and created many rug-hooking hangings and crewel-work pictures, some of them won awards at the Porcupine District Agricultural Society.
She loved a fire and a burnt wiener at the family cottage nearTimmins, and liked to treat her family to dinner whenever there was a special occasion. She loved to laugh, and enjoyed games like Zonk, Crib, and spent countless hours with her good friend, Peggy McNeil playing Scrabble at their kitchen tables while their husbands were off fishing or hunting.
In Grande Prairie she was the person who always made sure people knew the events happening at her building and encouraged them to join in. She was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion there. In 2010 Lynne, Tymmarah and Veronica took a road trip from Grande Prairie to Whitehorse and Skagway, Alaska so Lynne could dip her toes in the Pacific Ocean and be able to say she’d done it there and the Atlantic.
The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to friendKelly Blanch who helped take care of and spent time with Lynne the years she lived in Red Deer as well as for the visits in the hospital the month before her passing.
Lynne will be returned to the cottage at Little Star Lake in a celebration of life with her family next Summer.
We know she’s singing along with her hero, Gordon Lightfootand other great folk singers who have passed, at a Hootenannyin Heaven. As she said in her last weeks, “It’s been a gas.”Peace.
The family invites photos and stories of Lynne to be shared with them on the Eventide Site.