Manitoba

Mrs. Anna Zuk (Prygroski) from Winnipeg, Manitoba, was named the 1998 National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother. During the national Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa on November 11, 1998, she laid a wreath at the base of the National War Memorial on behalf of all mothers who have lost a child in military service to Canada.

On August 19, 1942, her youngest son, Emil Prygroski was wounded during the ill-fated Dieppe Raid and subsequently succumbed to his injuries at the Montréal Military Hospital in 1950.

Mrs. Zuk was the daughter of John and Catherine Probizanski and the mother of two sons who served overseas. Her eldest, Bernie, was wounded in 1945, shortly before the war’s end, and underwent extensive reconstructive surgery to the facial area. He later moved with his family to Chicago, Illinois.

Mrs. Zuk championed many causes and was a staunch believer in volunteerism. She was also known to debate issues with leading politicians in the Winnipeg area, including the mayor, premier and Foreign Affairs minister.

A former nurse’s aide, Mrs. Zuk was credited with saving two heart attack victims—a man in his forties who collapsed on a city bus when she was 83 and a 92 year-old who had collapsed in in the lobby of their seniors’ apartment building in Winnipeg.

With seven members of her family killed during the war—son, brother, cousin and four nephews, Mrs. Zuk was a poignant representative for Silver Cross Mothers in Manitoba over several years and represented other Silver Cross Mothers at memorial functions, in their absence.

In spite of having undergone 13 operations, including the removal of her kidneys, Mrs. Zuk attributed her long life to being a non-smoker, non-drinker and coming from a family with a rich history of longevity. She died on June 19, 2000.

Mrs. Della Marie Morley of East Saint Paul, Manitoba, was the 2009 National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother. During the national Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa on November 11, 2009, she laid a wreath at the base of the National War Memorial on behalf of all mothers who have lost a child in military service to Canada.

On September 18, 2006, her son, Corporal Keith Ian Morley, was killed by a suicide bicycle bomber while on foot patrol in Afghanistan. He was serving with A Company, 2^nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry from Shilo, Manitoba.

Originally from Elkhorn, Mrs. Morley attended school there and in Virden before going to study at Western Christian College in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. She married Russel Morley and they raised two children, Keith and Shannon Jaye. Widowed in 2003, she later remarried Fred Duna.

Anita Cenerini spent much of her early life in Ontario’s northern and southern regions. She currently lives in Winnipeg with her husband Grant and their  son Jacob.

As the National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother, Mrs. Cenerini laid a wreath at the National War Memorial on 11 November 2018 on behalf of all Canadian mothers who have lost a son or a daughter in the military either in action or in the course of his/her normal duty.

She lost her son, Private Thomas Welch, on May 8, 2004, less than three months after returning from Afghanistan, Thomas died by suicide in Petawawa. 

Anita raised her late son Thomas and daughter Michelle with her first husband Daniel Welch. She was active in the Catholic Church, volunteering in the Children’s ministry and serving as the President of the Catholic Women’s Society. She also sat on the church board. 

In London, she pursued studies at the University of Western Ontario and Georgian Bay College’s Entrepreneurial program, worked at the University of Western Ontario and volunteered as a support person with the AIDS Committee of London. In Owen Sound, she volunteered as a victim support person with Victim’s Assistance. 

Returning to London, Anita’s family grew with her new husband, Grant Palmer, and his two older sons Michael and Thomas Palmer. Their youngest son Jacob was born and Anita spent the next few years caring for her growing family. Her son Jacob recently enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces Primary Reserves with The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada, under 3rd Canadian Division, 38 Canadian Brigade Group at Minto Armouries, in Winnipeg. 

Anita ran in the 2017 Army Run in Ottawa in memory of her son Thomas Welch, and in support of those who serve in the military.

Gloria Hooper lives in the small French town of St. Claude, Manitoba but was born and grew up on the family farm in Shell Valley. Gloria recalls a busy early life, especially as the oldest of four children. After her early years of school in nearby towns such as Inglis and Russell, Gloria went to work as a telephone operator in Dauphin, Manitoba with what was Manitoba Telecom Services at the time. She later took an interest in nursing and got her training Keewatin Community College. After graduating, she worked locally at St. Anthony’s General Hospital. Married to her husband Clinton Hooper they moved to Holland, Manitoba and bought a restaurant and hotel. The place kept them busy, and Gloria took a break from her medical career. They later sold the business, and she went back to nursing. Retiring after a back injury, she later helped in a group home for adults with disabilities and also did some cooking for seniors. In her spare time, she enjoyed crafts. She raised two children, Christopher (Chris) and his younger sister Ashley.

She lost her son Private Chris Holopina on 4 July 1996, while on duty as part of Operation Alliance. He and his comrades were involved in a vehicle accident while on their way to help rescue a group of British soldiers stranded in a mine field. The Canadian armoured vehicle left the road to avoid an accident, but then careened down a ravine and rolled over, killing Chris. He was the first Canadian to give his life in Bosnia as part of that mission.