Obituary of HALINA ONUFRIJCHUK

HALINA ONUFRIJCHUK It is with deep sadness that we announce the falling asleep in the Lord of Halina Onufrijchuk, our beloved Mama and Baba, on Saturday, October 27, 2012, after a courageous battle with cancer. Halina was predeceased by her parents, Akulina and Wasyl Pawluk, her brother Vitaly, and sister Ol'ha and her husband Eli and daughter, Dobrodiyka Oksana Olekshy, and sons-in-law Mikhaylo Sokulski and Wayne Bonner. Left to cherish her memory are her daughters Halia Bonner and Marika Sokulski, grandson Michael (Chelsea) Sokulski, granddaughter Ilaria (Lucien) Bissonette, sisters-in-law Ursula Onufrijchuk and Dobrodiyka Zenovia Turzansky, brother-in-law Rev. Yuri Turzansky, nieces Vera Onufrijchuk, Ingrid (Kurt) Fisher, and Irene (Harry) Hleck; nephews Andrij (Kris) Turzansky and Roman (Rita) Onufrijchuk, and son-in-law Rev. Orest Olekshy. Halina leaves to mourn numerous nieces and nephews in Ukraine. Halina was born in Lokachi, Volyn' region. In her younger years she sang in the church choir and participated in her local theatre and operettas in Ukraine. During the turbulent World War II years and the invasion of the German army, Halina and Eli married in 1941. They were both forced to work on a farm in Germany until the end of the war, and then ended up at a displaced persons' camp. Eventually in 1948 they made their way to Canada settling in Winnipeg, Manitoba to raise their three daughters and immerse in the Ukrainian cultural and church community. Halina supported her husband in his efforts to raise funds to publish books authored by Metropolitan Ilarion. Halina was a loving and devoted wife, Mama and Baba. She enjoyed cooking and gardening, embroidering Ukrainian blouses for the church youth group, and sewing. Halina had a passion for collecting Ukrainian Folk Art which her home was filled with. Halina enjoyed entertaining and was a generous hostess and wonderful cook. Halina was a member of the Women's Auxiliary of Lesia Ukrayinka branch at the Orthodox Cathedral of St. Mary the Protectress for 45 years. She was also a member of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (KYK) for a great number of years and a contributing writer to various Ukrainian community newspapers. Halina participated in displaying her collection of Ukrainian folk art in the Folklorama Ukrainian Kiev Pavilion. Our Mama and Baba will be deeply missed for her generosity and kindness to everyone she met. The family thanks the nurses and doctors for providing palliative care to Halina on the 6th floor at the St. Boniface Hospital and for their attentive care of Halina. Thank you also to Fr. Alexander Harkavyi for his visit and prayers, to dear friend Lilia Sorokowski for her compassionate supportive care to the family throughout Halina's illness, and to cousin Vera and aunt Ursula for their faithful attendance to Halina during her hospital stay. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 3, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral (Sobor) of St. Mary the Protectress, 820 Burrows Avenue. Interment will follow at the Glen Eden Memorial Gardens. Flowers graciously declined. If so desired, donations may be made to CancerCare Manitoba, St. Boniface Hospital, or St. Mary the Protectress Ukrainian Cathedral (Sobor). Vichna yiyi Pam'yat'!