Obituary of LILLIAN KUSHNIARYK

LILLIAN JEANETTE KUSHNIARYK (nee KARPYNKA) 1933 – 2014 It is with heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of Lillian Jeanette Kushniaryk at Seven Oaks Hospital on September 4, 2014. Lillian was born on March 8, 1933 in Winnipeg to Julia (Zuk) and Theophil Karpynka and married Ernest Kushniaryk on August 13, 1966. She was predeceased by Ernest on August 26, 2009 after 43 happy years together. Left to lovingly remember Lillian are her daughter Lisa, son-in-law Ken and grandson Ari Hansen. Lillian’s memory also will be cherished by her sister Jeanette (Keith) Dryburgh, nephew Scott (Wendy) Dryburgh and their son Rory, nephew Patrick (Leslie) Dryburgh and their children Leah, Hailey and Alec, and other relatives and friends in Canada, U.S.A. and Ukraine. Lillian enjoyed her career and treasured her family. She supported her husband and daughter in all of their ventures and was proud of them. Lillian was especially proud of Lisa’s many musical, sporting and professional accomplishments. When Lisa married Ken, Lillian thought of him as the son she never had. Together, the three of them attended many Winnipeg Symphony concerts and several seasons of Manitoba Opera. Lillian also enjoyed exploring new restaurants with Lisa and Ken. In 2011, Lisa gave birth to a beautiful precious baby son, Ari. He meant the world to Lillian and brought much joy to her life. Lillian and her sister, Jeanette, were very close and she greatly valued her support and encouragement. Family was extremely important to Lillian and became even more so after Ari’s birth. For the first couple of years of Ari’s life, she spent almost every afternoon with Lisa and him. She loved Ari and Ari loves his Baba. Lillian also enjoyed travelling. When Lisa was growing up, there were many family trips to Disneyland, Hawaii, the southern U.S.A and western Canada. After retirement, Lillian and Ernest continued to travel to warm climates such as Hawaii, Arizona, Florida, tropical cruises and also enjoyed visiting Europe. Holidays were favourite days for Lillian. She loved celebrating events and for the family to be together. Fun memories of singing carols on Christmas Eve with Lillian accompanying on the piano will live on with our family. She beamed with such happiness when Ari joined her on the piano bench to plink along. Lillian was a distinguished musician, pianist, accompanist for singers and violinists from Winnipeg and other centres, a teacher of piano, voice and music theory, examiner, adjudicator and workshop clinician. After receiving ARCT degrees in both piano and voice from the Royal Conservatory of Toronto, she attained the degree of LRSM in piano from the Royal Schools of London, England and a Certificate in Group Piano Teaching from the Canadian Bureau of the Advancement of Music in Toronto. During the course of her musical education, Lillian studied piano with Boris Roubakine (Toronto) and Sonia Eckhardt-Gramatté (Winnipeg) and voice with Nina Dempsey (Winnipeg) and Gladys Whitehead (Winnipeg). As an educator, Lillian taught theory and keyboard classes at the University of Manitoba for many years. She also conducted classes in Group Piano Instruction Techniques and supervised piano classes in public schools in western Canada. She taught piano and voice privately in her home for many years and influenced many students; some of which still kept in touch to the present day and also made their careers in music. A co-producer of a Ukrainian radio program, Lillian wrote and narrated the script and as well as accompanying soloists performing on the program. Lillian was very active in the music community and was past-president of the Winnipeg branches for each of the Manitoba Registered Music Teachers’ Association and the Toronto Conservatory Alumni. She also had been involved in Winnipeg Ukrainian theatre as a vocal coach and accompanist. Toronto always held a special place in Lillian’s heart after spending many years studying and working there. She very much enjoyed the happy summers she spent performing at the Canadian National Exhibition. We would like to thank Dr. Heather Domke for her care over the years, the St. Boniface Hospital Cardiac Sciences Program, and especially, the doctors and staff of Seven Oaks Hospital for their compassionate care during the last few days of Lillian’s time with us. Special thanks to Jeanette and Keith Dryburgh for always being there. In accordance with Lillian’s wishes, cremation has taken place and a private family interment will occur at a later date. A memorial service will be held at the Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main Street on Thursday, September 11 at 2:00 p.m. Flowers are gratefully declined. If desired, donations may be made in Lillian’s memory to a charity of your choice. To My Family Remember me in your heart, your thoughts and your memories, of the times we loved, the times we cried, the times we fought and the times we laughed. For if you always think of me; I will never be gone. Love, Mom