Bernice Ann Rattai (Nee Artimowich)

February 8, 1956 – January 13, 2023

After a long and hard-fought battle with cancer, mom said it was time to rest at the age of 66.  Mom passed away peacefully with her husband and two children by her side at the Selkirk Hospital. 

She was an amazing and loving wife, mom, grandma, sister, aunt and friend. She is survived by her loving husband of 42 years, Melvin Rattai, daughter Jody (Chris) Thiessen, son Cory (Lori) Rattai and grandchildren Kathryn Thiessen, Madeline, Isabella and Theodore Rattai. She also leaves behind her mother-in-law Marlene Rattai, her siblings Gerry (Val) Artimowich, Stella Pruse, Larry (Donna) Artimowich, Ron Artimowich, and Brenda (Ward) Omichinski and many nieces, nephews and friends.  She is predeceased by her mom Pauline Artimowich and Michael Artimowich, father-in-law Harold Rattai, sister-in-law Carol Artimowich, infant brother Kenneth Artimowich and infant grandson Carter Thiessen

Bernice was born in Nanaimo, BC on February 8, 1956.  Her family moved east and settled in Tyndall, Manitoba.  Bernice was this oldest of all her siblings.  Growing up she helped look after the family when their mother went back to work.

At the age of 16 in 1972, she met her future husband on a blind date, and they enjoyed their many hobbies of drag racing in Gimli with her Mustang Cobra, going to the movies and travelling. Mom worked at the Winnipeg airport in the late 70’s & early 80’s. 

In 1984 she moved to Beausejour with her husband and built their first home.  She was a proud mom of 2 kids and devoted her time to her family.  She would cheer them on in hockey, skating, curling and anything else they tried.  She volunteered many hours in the community.  She was not only a stay-at-home mom, but was the bookkeeper for her husband’s farming and construction businesses.

Mom loved traveling; a few of her memorable places were Las Vegas, Talladega, Branson and Niagara Falls. Mom loved being a snowbird and travelling down to Florida during the winter months.  When she bought the condo in Florida, she gained a new group of friends.    She would socialize with all her friends down there and go to the Daytona 500 with dad every February and take a trip down to Key West every few years to enjoy her margarita on the rocks. When she was home, she would enjoy making big dinners for the holidays.  She was known for her butter tarts , and sweet and sour meatballs. Every Christmas she would buy too many gifts for all her kids and grand kids.   Being a loving farm wife, she would bring suppers out to the fields and help move equipment.

When mom was diagnosed with Cancer, she kept a positive outlook and attitude and enjoyed life even more.  The family would like to thank the Selkirk Hospital for all their help in looking after mom during her treatments and her palliative care.

Viewing will be held at Sobering Funeral Chapel, on Tuesday, January 17 from 7 to 9 PM, and on Wednesday, January 18 from 10 to 11 AM.  Funeral service will be held at 11 AM., with internment to follow in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery and a luncheon at the Beausejour hall – Beausejour Room.

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