Obituary of EVSTACHIJ (STANISLAW) ZAJAC

EVSTACHIJ (STANISLAW) ZAJAC On July 25, 2015 Evstachij, age 89 years, beloved husband of Eva, passed away at Seven Oaks Hospital. Prayers (Панахида) 7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 31, 2015 at Sts. Vladimir and Olga Cathedral, 114 McGregor St, with funeral (Похорон) 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 1, 2015 followed by interment at All Saints Cemetery, with luncheon to follow. Evstachij is survived by his wife Eva, daughters Bohdanna Pankiw, Maria Swarbrick, Olya Zentner (Michael), Irka Mendela (Walter), grandchildren Vanessa Swarbrick (Michael Shiplack), Jonathan Swarbrick (Jessica Mitten-Moore), Leah Chatzoglou (Christian), Maxime Zentner, Larissa Mendela (Matthew Duffy), Stephan Mendela (Brittney Puttaert), great-grandchildren Sacha Stephens, Eddie Chatzoglou, Tess Duffy, nieces Bohdanna Maslo family, Hania Korbutiak (Petro) family, Bohdanna Katerniak family, Olga Mendela and other extended family in Canada and Ukraine. Tato was born on January 2nd, 1926 in the village of Hayvoronka, Ternopilska Oblast, Ukraine. His early years were spent in the circle of an extended family near the river Strypa. At the end of the Second World War he found asylum in Asten Lager, a refugee camp near Linz, Austria. Miraculously, his older brother Vasyl, had also landed at Asten Lager with his two daughters, Bohdanna and Anna, both of whom had been Tato’s playmates in Hayvoronka. It was also at Asten Lager that Tato met and married Eva Kotyrha on November 24th, 1945. From their providential reunion at Asten Lager, the life paths of Vasyl, Bohdanna, Anna, Tato and Mama would remain interconnected leading ultimately to their settlement in Winnipeg. Evstachij and Eva arrived in Winnipeg in early 1951 with their two daughters, Bohdanna and Maria, and subsequently had two more daughters, Olya and Irka. Tato worked as an electrician for 18 years at NEFCO after which he left to start and successfully run his storefront business E&E Appliances and Furniture located at 488 Selkirk Avenue until his retirement. He was a passionate fisherman. He enjoyed the freedom that driving his car gave him and loved to explore the woods. Our parents would take long drives to go berry picking and mushroom picking. Tato was fascinated with how mechanical things worked and would completely disassemble them only to better understand how to put them back together. Tato enriched the lives of those who knew him. Tato was optimistic and infinitely curious about life, politics and society. He loved nature and delighted in exploration. His physical strength and athleticism, his ability to fix the unfixable, his delight in Ukrainian song, dance and language, his readiness to entertain others with fabulous stories and to share laughter, his willingness to lend a hand, and his dedication to family are the wonderful legacy he leaves in his descendants. Tato was predeceased by his brothers Vasyl and Mychailo Jajecznik, and by his sister, Anastasia Perih. We have lost a loving father and best friend and our mother has lost her companion of 70 years. Our family would like to express their sincere thanks to Tato’s Homecare Coordinator and Homecare Workers and the doctors and staff on the 4th floor, Unit 4 at the Seven Oaks Hospital. A most heartfelt thank-you goes to Dr. Terry Babick for his years of caring for our Tato as well to his wife, Petrusia, who coordinated visits. Pallbearers will be: Walter Mendela; Michael Zentner; Jonathon Swarbrick; Stephan Mendela; Lukian Kandia; Roman Korbutiak. Honorary Pallbearers will be: Leah Chatzouglou; Vanessa Swarbrick; Larissa Mendela; Maxime Zentner. The Officiating priest will be Rev. Mitrat Michael Buyachok. VICHNAYA PAMYAT’