Alma Sembaluk

Alma Sembaluk (Shearer) of Swan River, Manitoba passed away with family by her side on May 13, 2024, at the age of 94 years at the Swan Valley Health Centre.

Alma was born on the farm near Togo, Saskatchewan on February 21st, 1930, to George and Millie Shearer.

She received her education in Togo, but then left school to help on the family farm. However, Alma loved to read, and self taught herself many things. She was exceptionally talented in crocheting, knitting and embroidery and even her baking was outstanding, especially her homemade buns. Alma would also provide much needed haircuts to her family when asked. Fashion was also an interest in her younger years, and she was always a smart dresser, many times wearing her own beautifully sewn clothes.

Alma left her family farm to work for a family in Kamsack, SK as a housekeeper and it was there at a baseball picnic and dance that she met her true love, Steve Sembaluk. They loved to dance, and it was wonderful to watch them glide across the dance floor. Alma and Steve were married on August 9th, 1951 in the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Togo, Saskatchewan and together they farmed in the Kamsack area up until 1966, when they purchased a farm and moved across the border to the Egilson District, along the Ditch Road in the RM of Swan Valley West in Manitoba. Steve and Alma retired from farming in July of 1994 and purchased a home on 9th Ave South, moving into Swan River with their son Greg. Alma and Steve were married for 67 years.

Mom (Grandma) always looked forward to family gatherings at her house and made sure that the house was always ready and that nobody left hungry. She took great pride in her family and home and was always sharing with us the letters and cards that came from her sisters. Grandma also enjoyed listening to and watching televised sermons and reading poems and prayers.

Alma was also actively involved with her grandchildren, whether it was watching over them for us or always wanting to know what they were up to. She especially enjoyed it when the little ones visited. She loved the hugs and kisses and making sure they weren’t too cold or too warm. A little one asked one day, who the princess was in a wedding photo that was in the living room, to which Grandpa had responded “that’s Grandpa’s princess” We are content in knowing that Grandpa now has his princess back with him again.

Alma is survived by her daughter Shelley Defoe (Wayne); sons Greg Sembaluk, Clayton Sembaluk and Mark Sembaluk (Lesley); eight grandchildren Kurt Chartrand, Kris Chartrand (Tara), Patrick Sembaluk, Haley Sembaluk, Matthew Sembaluk (Paige), Nick Watson (Jamie), and Erica Sembaluk-Hart; 5 great-grandchildren Roksana and Adeena Chartrand, Olivia and Naomi Watson and Weston Sembaluk; sisters Eleanor Wilson; Elrose (Bill) Nickel; Norma (Ken) McNicol and sisters-in-law, Rena Shearer, Pauline Picton and Anne Sembaluk; along with numerous nieces and nephews and extended family members.

Alma was predeceased by her husband Steve in 2018, son Reginald Sembaluk in 2012, daughter-in-law Marguerite Sembaluk (2016), her parents, George and Millie Shearer; 2 sisters, Georgina Nabe and Karoline Shearer; brother George Shearer; brothers-in-law Jack Nabe, Ray Wilson, John Sembaluk, Sergie Sembaluk (Marguerite), Bill Sembaluk (Mabel) and Mike Sembaluk (Olivia); sisters-in-law Mary (Vic), Verna and Sandra (Bob) and brother-in-law Allan.