Deanna passed away peacefully on August 10, 2020 with her family by her side.
She was predeceased by her parents George and Georgina Standal. She will be lovingly
remembered by her husband Frank Walczak, their daughter Julie Mills (Michael) and their
daughters, Uma and Willow, their daughter Tracey Williams (Stuart) and their daughters, Chloe
and Emma, sister Sheila Perkins (son Brad), sister Audrey Barnes (Steve), sister Irene Standal.
There are numerous family and friends who shared many special times in Frank and Deanna's
life.
Deanna grew up in Chemainus and moved to Victoria in 1966. She says her only claim to fame
was being the marble champion in Grade 6 at the Chemainus Elementary School. Deanna met
Frank 45 years ago when she was taking guitar lessons at his place of work. They were married
within a year and bought their first house shortly thereafter. Frank and Deanna spent many
happy years converting this house into their home. Deanna loved interior design and
landscaping and Frank was "the go to guy" on construction so the result was very satisfying.
Frank and Deanna paid off their house in five years then nervously spent a considerable sum on
their first sailboat, Sparkle. Julie and Tracey became second and third mates when they were
two years old. Deanna became the captain as she had beat Frank by one-half percent on the
Power Squadron Course. This gang spent many happy years sailing the Gulf Islands, Desolation
Sound, the Sunshine Coast and the San Juan Islands. Frank and Deanna were two of the original
members of the Sidney North Saanich Yacht Club and over the years participated in many
happy events with the friendly yacht club gang. In April 1995 they bought their second sailboat,
Felicity. Finally, headroom, just as Julie and Tracey were now branching out into other activities,
although mom and dad still get many requests for an outing on the boat, Sidney Island being a
favorite.
Deanna spent her work life as a secretary in several locations around Victoria, in particular, the
Royal BC Museum, Victoria Law Courts and School District 61. However, when she was
expecting their first child, she wisely decided to take a week off before her due date to prepare
the room. However, Julie came a week early and the word work, as she knew it, took on
significantly more meaning. Tracey came along three and one-half years later and with the
arrival of these two amazing little people, the happiest days of their lives began. After this
productive phase, their daughters blessed them with four granddaughters. Deanna claims that
if happiness were to be defined by her, it would be grandchildren!
Deanna loved to dance: folk dancing, line dancing, ballroom dancing and just jumping up and
down. Frank and Deanna took ballroom lessons for five years. Frank has a lot of rhythm (he was
a musician once upon a time) and she would complain that the instructor often used him to
demonstrate new dances and help with the helpless. In the meantime, she would be trampled
by a partner of limited abilities.
Deanna had her kidney transplant at St Paul's Hospital in December 2018, an emotional event
that required some much-needed recovery time. Prior to this she had past surgeries for
metastatic stage 4 renal cell cancer, a kidney in 2005 and her thyroid in 2010. Before the
transplant she knew that her cancer could return because of the immunosuppressant drugs and
her cancer history. Unfortunately, it did.
Deanna would like to thank her twin sister, Irene, for her generous and courageous donation of
her kidney and her chicken soup. She would also like to thank all the wonderful medical staff
who became part of her journey. Julie and Tracey, their lovely daughters, were always there for
her with phone calls, pictures, visits, massages and big hugs. Deanna's greatest joy in life was
her family. Deanna was so very grateful and thankful to have had Frank's loving care over the
past several months. He stood by her side every step of the way along this rocky road. She
joked that she couldn't have died without him.
If you wish to visit Deanna, she will be dancing on top of Mt. Tolmie looking down on the house
she and Frank shared for 45 years. No flowers please, but donations to St. Paul's Hospital
Kidney Transplant Program in Vancouver would be most welcome.
Confession, so she can RIP. Deanna asked Frank what he knew about her after 45 years. "I know
you like to read and go for walks", hence Deanna's embellished version.
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