Obituary of Halyna Sluzar

Halyna (Helen) Sluzar Peacefully, on June 25, 2008, Halyna Sluzar, beloved wife of Rt. Rev. Wolodymyr Sluzar, went to sleep in the Lord, at Seven Oaks General Hospital in Winnipeg. Left to mourn is her loving husband of 62 years, Rev. Wolodymyr, her children George (Joanne) of Ottawa, Ontario and Vera (Brett MacIntyre) of Richmond Hill, Ontario, and her beloved grandchildren Tara, Maia, Andrew and Mark. She is also survived by her brother Ivan (Raisa) Machula (Toronto, Ontario), her sister-in-law Maria Sluzar and their families, as well as Irene Strilchuk (Yorkton, Sask.) and many family members in Ukraine. Halyna was born on July 6,1921 to Hryhory and Alexandra Machula in the village of Pavlivka (Zaporrhizka obl.) Ukraine. She was the eldest of 4 siblings. During the time of forced collectivization by the Soviet government, her family was exiled to labour camps in Northern Russia. Later, Halyna's family moved to Stavropol, Caucasus where Halyna completed her secondary schooling and attended medical school. With the onset of war between Germany and the USSR, Halyna was forced to abandon her studies. With the retreat of the German army from Eastern Europe, Halyna and her family found themselves in Germany as forced laborers. After the end of the Second World War, Halyna and her family remained as refugees in Germany. In 1946, at the refugee camp in Bavaria, Halyna met and married Wolodymyr Sluzar. They were sponsored that year to Canada and settled first in Yorkton, Saskatchewan and later moved to Winnipeg where Wolodymyr studied theology at St. Andrew's College. Following his ordination as a priest in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (in 1953), Rev. Fr. Wolodymyr and Dobr. Halyna began their ministerial work in the parishes of Saskatoon and Canora Saskatchewan and later at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Winnipeg. Dobr. Halyna was involved in all aspects of parish life, teaching youth in Church School and Ukrainian Language School (Ridna Shkola), taking an active part in many cultural and educational programs, and serving on the executive of the Ukrainian Women's Association of Canada (UWAC). For her service in the community she was formally recognized and honored by both the Church and UWAC. Halyna's life was one of devotion and dedication to God, her family and community. Her strong Christian faith sustained her throughout life's many hardships. She was proud of her Ukrainian heritage and strived to pass this tradition on to her children and grandchildren, as well as to the children she taught in Ukrainian and Sunday schools. She also recognized the value of higher education and encouraged her children and grandchildren with their schooling. The family would like to extend their gratitude to Very Rev. H. Lakusta and Rev. A. Harkavyi for their spiritual support. Thank you also to Dr. Tamara Buchel, Dr. D.A. Ross and staff of KMC for their medical care and to staff in the Hi-Observation Unit (Health Sciences) and also Seven Oaks Hospital. We also thank all who came to visit Dobr. Halyna during her hospital stay and for your support and prayers. Panakhyda-Prayers will be held on Sunday, June 29 at 7 p.m. at Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, 1175 Main St. Funeral Service will be held on Monday, June 30 at 9:30 a.m. also at the Cathedral. Interment at Glen Eden Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations to Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Ukrainian Canadian Committee - Holodomor fund or Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba would be appreciated. VICHNAYA PAMYAT An online book of condolences may be signed at www.cropo.com CROPO FUNERAL CHAPEL 586-8044