June 29th 1982- On a gracious June morning at 9:30 am, a beautiful little baby was born. She was named Karen Shirley. Karen was 7lb and 13oz when she was born. She was a glorious brunette and she had amazing blue eyes. Karen was born at The Pas, Manitoba to Mike and Shirley Petryk. Jeremie, her older brother, always liked to bother Karen as a typical older brother would do. So finally, Karen stood up for herself and gave Jeremie a permanent tattoo. Karen Shirley was nicknamed Mary Sunshine, for she always woke up with a great big smile. She grew up in Cranberry Portage and her mom homeschooled her a couple years and then she attended the Cranberry Portage Elementary school and Frontier Collegiate. Growing up she did a lot of figure skating and she was a very talented piano player. She had two shelties named Fudge and Taffy. She LOVED to dress up in well done clothing made by her baba. Little Karen loved to act in Christmas concerts and loved going to Sunday school. Through Karen’s teen years, she loved to hang out with her friends and go crazzzzzy.
June 2000- She had lived at Brandon for a short time and then attended the Assiniboine Community College in Russell to become LPN (little pretty nurse). Auntie Colleen, who worked at the school Karen was attending, introduced her to a local handsome farmer known for his great looks, Craig Fingas. Karen turned down Craig three whole times, and after how hard Craig stalked her, she decided to say yes. She soon realized that it was a great choice.
December 31st 2006- They dated for several years and soon became husband and wife. They had a cow farm and Karen loved to help out with calving. With her amazing talents, she had the power to help with calving and drive the big wheels - aka the tractors/combines and anything with wheels. On top of that she always made sure everyone was fed. She loved to go for motorcycle rides alongside Craig on her very own motorcycle.
They had 4 amazing and beautiful children. The beauty came from Karen and the muscle came from Craig. Because of her winning personality and her beaming smile, she made amazing lifelong friends who were always by her side. We did a lot of outdoor activities like going camping with lots of friends. Silver Beach and Asessippi campground were probably our top two favorites. Now we may not see or hear her, but she will always be by our sides, always sending her love.
Karen is survived by her husband Craig, her children Elizabeth, Jamie, Kennedy and Brodie; her mother Shirley and husband Frank, her father Mike, her brother Jeremie and his children Josie & Ryan, her in-laws Randy & Gayle, Kent & Tammy and their children Mikala, Gracie & Radek, Heidi & Scott and their child Emma. Karen was pre-deceased by her grandparents Ed & Mary Driedger, and Mike & Fanny Petryk, and her sister-in-law Abby.
Written by: Elizabeth Ann