Skip to content
September 1, 1926 - September 7, 2022
Rosa Emilia (Em) Tkacz (nee Lucchi) (aka) OMA, born 1 September 1926, passed away 7 September 2022 peacefully in her sleep at the age of 96.
She has gone to heaven to be with her husband Jozef, her son Richard, and all of her siblings except for Maria Selgrath-Meyer (in Germany)...the only surviving Tip Top girl (daughters of a cobbler in Germany who passed on the Lucchi curse for owning many pairs of shoes.)
Oma loved to sew and quilt and we are sure many in Sooke and families around the world must have one of her aprons or quilts.
She is survived by her daughter Helene Buchan (Seattle), Helene's husband Stuart, their children Ryan (Amanda) and Lara. Great grandchildren Sable, Foster, Veyda and Shepherd. Her daughter Camille Tkacz and husband Robert Ayotte (Sooke)and his children Carolyn (Halifax) and Kevin (Ottawa).
Her daughter-in law Sharon Tkacz (Burlington) and Grandchild Michael (Vancouver).
Emilia survived the war, a Labour camp and came to Canada as a War Bride of a Polish Veteran in 1950. She lived in Beauharnois, Montreal and Hamilton until she went with her husband to live with Camille in Ottawa in 1993.
She then travelled the world with Camille and her husband until they retired in Sooke in 2008. She walked every morning for many years and sewed the rest of the day.
She wanted to stay at home, never go into a home, and pass either in bed or at her sewing machine.
At the end of her long happy life, she passed in her hospital bed which was in her sewing room. Her wish was for no service or Celebration of Life but rather that all her family and friends raise a glass of wine (preferably German and warm as she liked it.)
A heartfelt thank you from Camille and her husband Bob, and Helene and her husband Stuart to the many people who helped her pass as she wished. Dr Tomas Vally, The Sooke Hospice Society, the palliative Care Nurses, the Care Aides and all the people who sent condolence wishes, flowers, and pictures of themselves toasting Mom with wine.
Thank you to Susan Vaughan who came every week to our house to keep Mom's hair beautiful. A very special thank you to Michele and Robert (Bob) Young who helped Camille and Bob through the last few years to navigate the journey of Dementia and were Camille's personal shoppers.