Leamington Ontario, August 11, 1925 to parents Lorna (ne: Knight) and Fred
Livingston. She left us April 10 in her 99th year, after a brief period of decline
in her frail health. Cora is pre-deceased by her loving husband of 73 years,
Samuel Mitchell Hauka, and her sister Evelyn Metcalfe (ne: Livingston). Cora
was a loving mother to son, Roger Hauka and daughter Connie Jasinskas (ne:
Hauka), as well as their spouses, Linda Hauka (ne: Novak) and Vytas
Jasinskas. Cora has five beautiful grandchildren, Mandy (Hauka) Ulcar, Jonas
Jasinskas, Jen and Heather Hauka, and Joseph Jasinskas. Her seven great
grandchildren are: Caleb Hauka, Olivia and Alison Jasinskas, Rowyn Hauka,
Leilani, Ethan and Milena Ulcar.
Sam, a farmer from Taber Alberta, met his dear Cora (his “Leamington
tomato”) at Port Stanley, while in training in St. Thomas with the RCAF. Cora
and Sam married in Windsor in 1946 after Sam completed his military
service as a flight engineer with the Royal Canadian Air Force. They
homesteaded in Claresholm Alberta, then moved to Taber to grow sugar
beets.
Cora and Sam had a shared dream to start a Dude Ranch – a western riding
summer camp for children. After leaving Alberta for another five-year stint
with the Airforce, they purchase a farm near Fingal Ontario, and started the
Horseshoe J Dude Ranch in the early 1960s. Cora handled registrations and
the ‘home’ side of the business, while Sam wrangled 40 horses and the
Dudes. They both had wonderful memories of those years and were
touched by the many Dudes who got in touch to thank them for a lifechanging experience at the Ranch.
They sold the Ranch in the early 1970s and moved to Gibsons BC to be
closer to and help care for Sam’s parents, Mike and Isabelle Hauka. They left
scenic Gibsons to move back to Ontario after Sam’s parents passed, leaving
behind “Samora Place”, the gorgeous home hand-built by Sam and lovingly
decorated by Cora.
Cora and Sam next moved to Simcoe, to be closer to their family – all of
whom were living in Ontario. This creative, well-dressed duo then directed
their energy and enthusiasm to their beautiful garden and to volunteering at
the Simcoe Seniors’ Centre. To be closer to family, Cora and Sam moved
from Simcoe to Cambridge in 2000. Since then, they shared a loving home
with daughter Connie and her hubby Vytas. Avid volunteers and gardeners,
they founded the Garden Club at the Ted Wake Lounge in Hespeler, where
they made many like-minded friends. Cora and Sam were honoured by the
Mayor for their many years of volunteer service.
Cora was a style icon, known for her positive nature, kindness and wit. She
was more put-together working in her garden than most of us would be for
a special event. Cora loved baking fancy goodies and creating stunning
arrangements from her lush garden. Though she had substantial physical
challenges from arthritis in her 90s, she often said, “Just because you have a
pain doesn’t mean you have to be one!”
Cora will be remembered with love and laughter at a private celebration of
life. If you would like to commemorate Cora, her favourite charities were
the Cancer Society and CNIB.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.5