Velma Jean (Naismith) Lehocky

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our Mom, Velma Jean Lehocky on Friday, January 23, 2026 at the age of 90 years.

Mom was born on April 17, 1935 to George ‘Bert’ and Linda Naismith. She grew up in the sandhills south of Carberry, MB. Her dad gave her the nickname ‘Babe’, a name many family members continued to call her throughout her life. She married Matt Lehocky on May 5, 1956 and raised five children. A hard worker all her life, she spent her days on the farm, caring for animals, baking / canning, processing chickens and gardening.

After raising her children, she worked at Carnation and in the homecare field for many years. After retirement, she found joy in reading, Christmas baking, tending to her dogs, feeding the birds and phone calls with family. As the dementia progressed and she was no longer able to live on her own, Georgette cared for our Mom until she moved in to the care home. She was initially unhappy and often talked about “planning her escape route”. In time, she settled and made it her home.  She found comfort sitting in her favorite chair by the fireplace, listening to the entertainment from a distance and joking with the staff.

Mom is lovingly remembered by her children Georgette (Bryan), Mike (Debbie), Tom, Guy (Colleen) and Tim, nine grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren and her sister Joan Radford.

Mom was predeceased by her husband, parents, three siblings (Betty, Harvey and Jack) and great-grandsons Matthew Kempe and Dayton Lehocky.

Thank you to the staff at the MacGregor Health Centre for the wonderful care, kindness and respect you showed our Mom. We are truly grateful.

At Mom’s request there will be no formal service.

If friends so wish, memorial donations may be made in Mom’s memory to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Manitoba, 200 – 6 Donald St., Winnipeg, MB R3L 0K6 or Matthew Kempe Memorial Scholarship, J.C. Charyk Hanna School, Box 1270, Hanna, AB T0J 1P0.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Velma Jean (Naismith) Lehocky, please visit our floral store.