Obituary of Lucyna Barbara Navratil

September 29, 1947 - Hohenfelz, Germany

April 18, 2024 - Cochrane, Alberta

Lucyna Navratil (nee Nowak), beloved wife of Victor Navratil, of Cochrane, AB, passed away on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at the age of 76 years.

Lucyna was born on September 29, 1947, in Hohenfelz, Bavaria, Germany to her Polish parents, Stanislaw and Stefania Nowak. She immigrated to Canada with her parents in 1950. Lucyna lived with her parents in Winnipeg, where she completed her education at Windsor Park Collegiate in 1965.

She subsequently moved to Montreal and then traveled back across Canada to settle in Calgary in 1971. Lucyna met her future husband Victor Navratil in 1971 and was married in 1973. Their wedding was celebrated on December 15, 1973, at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church. Her son Steven Navratil arrived in 1975.

As a younger working woman, Lucyna worked in a variety of endeavors to help support her family. Aside from her working career, Lucyna was very supportive of her husband Victor’s career as a designer in oil and gas.

It is also true that Lucyna took pride in her Polish roots. Along with many others, Lucyna and Victor contributed to the early 1980s construction of the Dom Polski (Polish House) in Calgary. Her son Steven was sent to John Paul II Polish School to learn about Polish language and culture.

As a younger woman, she attended and was an active parishioner at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church. Lucyna also provided much support to her son Steven at the various schools he attended.

Lucyna also enjoyed cooking and entertaining family and friends. She enjoyed playing her piano, especially the music of the composer Fryderyk Chopin. The family residence in Ranchlands from 1979 to 1986, as well as the later house in Water Valley, were testaments to Lucyna’s vocation in gardening and landscape design.

This brief obituary does not do justice to the life of Lucyna; a kind, loving wife, mother, and friend, who touched the lives of many people.

Besides her loving husband Victor, Lucyna is survived by her loving son Steven, her brother Viktor Nowak (Cathy Richards) of Fort Frances, ON, her nieces Leah and Jenna; and her nephew Mathew Nowak.

Lucyna was predeceased by her father Stanislaw Nowak in December 1993, and her mother Stefania Nowak in January 2001.

Those wishing to pay their respects may do so at McInnis & Holloway (Crowfoot, 82 Crowfoot Circle NW, Calgary, AB) on Thursday, April 25, 2024, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady Queen of Peace Polish Catholic Church (2111 Uxbridge Drive N.W., Calgary, AB) on Friday, April 26, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Reception to follow in the Parish Hall.

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Lucyna’s family here.

In living memory of Lucyna Navratil, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Crowfoot, 82 Crowfoot Circle NW, Calgary, AB T3G 2T3, Telephone: 403-241-0044.