Obituary of SR. ADRIANNE KATHERINE CHARANDUK, SSMI

Sister Adrianne Katherine Charanduk, SSMI 

1927-2018

Sister Adrianne, a Sister Servant of Mary Immaculate, died at Bethany Home, in Winnipeg, MB, on Sunday, February 11, 2018, in her 91st year and 69th year in Religious Life.

Katherine was born on July 4, 1927, in Ituna, SK.  Her parents, Anthony and  Mary (Spilchuk)  immigrated to Canada from Ukraine in 1908 and were blessed with eight daughters and eight sons. Katherine was born the year her older sibling, Dora (Sister Neonilia), entered the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate.  The parents’ deep faith was passed on to their children, who grew up in the church and were taught by the Sisters Servants.

Katherine learned sacrifice early in life when she left school to help her family. As a young woman in the early 1940’s Katherine joined other family members in Toronto to find work. By 1949, Katherine heard in her heart Christ’s call to enter the Sisters Servants in Ancaster, ON.  Taking the religious name Adrianne, she professed her first vows in 1952 and final profession in 1958.   She joined five of her cousins who already were Sisters Servants!

Sister Adrianne wholeheartedly served her religious community, church and people in Alberta; Saskatchewan; Manitoba; Ontario; Quebec; USA; Rome; Munich, Germany; Mackwiller and Lourdes, France. She fully lived the gospel value of Hospitality throughout life by nourishing people with food she prepared and with her receiving heart. She cared for and created beauty in chapels, gardens and various Sister’s homes. She served in the Bishop’s residence in Munich, the San Giosafat Seminary in Rome, and was hostess in the SSMI leadership home in Rome.

For over twelve years she faithfully served the Holy Spirit Seminary in Ottawa. Her culinary talents, practicality and compassionate presence are gratefully remembered by those who now serve in the Ukrainian Catholic church as bishops and priests. 

Gifted in many ways, Sr. Adrianne lived with perseverance, adapted quickly, learnt as she went, thus witnessing to her deep spirituality and faithfulness. She knew who it was she Serving! She was grateful to her community for the care and support given her, especially as she faced some serious health issues.

Sister Adrianne loved her family dearly, visiting them whenever she was able. She celebrated her sister, Sister Neonilia’s 100^th birthday, and months later prayed by her bedside as she passed.  Predeceased by her parents and siblings Catherine, Anne, Dora (Sr. Neonilia, SSMI), Sophie, Olga, John, Tony, Bill, Harry, Stella, Alex, Mary, Nestor, Isadore and Bennie. She leaves her sisters-in-law’s Clare (Isadore) and Eva (Harry), many grieving nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, family in Ukraine and the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate.

Funeral Divine Liturgy will be Friday, February 16, 2018 at 10:00 am, St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church - 737 Bannerman Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak, OSBM officiating. Interment at Holy Family Cemetery. Charitable donations may be made in her memory to SSMI Lubov Foundation - Holy Family Home Building Expansion. 

Sister Adrianne’s memory be eternal! Вічна її пам’ять