Obituary of SISTER JACINTA KATHERINE SHYMKIW, SSMI

Sister Jacinta Katherine Shymkiw, SSMI

1933 – 2025

Sister Jacinta Shymkiw fell asleep in the Lord on Friday, April 25, 2025 at Holy Family Home in Winnipeg, Manitoba, at 92 years of age, and 73 in religious life.

She was predeceased by her parents; brothers Anthony and Michael; sisters Mary Dankow (Bill), Patricia Fields (Wally), Lena Lemko (Fred) and Anne Balaski (John). She is survived by her sister-in-law Laverne Shymko of Oshawa, ON; numerous nieces, nephews and their families, as well as her Sisters in the SSMI Community.

Katherine was born in Rose Valley, Saskatchewan March 17, 1933 and was baptized April 12, 1933 in Fosston, Saskatchewan. She was the daughter of Andrew Shymkiw and Sophia (nee Nycholat) the last of seven children, having had four sisters and two brothers, one of whom died in infancy.

Katherine entered the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate in Ancaster, Ontario on August 17, 1951. Given the religious name Sister Jacinta, she made first profession of vows on February 19, 1954 and final profession August 15, 1957.

Sister Jacinta served people of all ages throughout her religious life. One of her first ministries was child care, first as prefect of children at St. Joseph’s Children’s Home in Mundare, Alberta and later at St. Anne’s Home in Ituna, Saskatchewan. She served in the kitchen in the Edmonton, Ottawa and Toronto homes, as well as for three years at the Bishop’s residence in Toronto, where she displayed her creative culinary skills. She also cooked for those on 30-day retreats in Guelph, Ontario when the Spiritual Exercises were made available to the SSMI Community in the 1970’s.

After completing her high school at Sacred Heart Academy in Yorkton, Saskatchewan in 1970, she subsequently studied nursing in Toronto, graduating as a registered nurse in 1972. She nursed at Mary Immaculate Hospital in Mundare for two years and then at Holy Family Home for five years, where she also became involved in pastoral care. While stationed for six years in Ituna, she cared for our elderly Sisters, and maintained her licence with part-time nursing at the Ituna Pioneer Lodge, a long-term care facility. In both Ituna and Mundare while nursing, she was Superior of the home. In all, she served as a nurse for thirteen years.

Throughout these years, she also taught summer catechism in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and in some locations, also taught parish catechism throughout the year.

Following the 1985-1986 sabbatical year of religious studies in Spokane, WA Sister Jacinta was assigned to Mount Mary Retreat Centre in Ancaster, ON where for 15 years, she provided nourishment for thousands of retreatants of all ages. She received many letters of gratitude for this particular ministry, attesting to her selfless dedication to fostering the faith and vocations.

Sister Jacinta spent holiday time mostly with her family, especially with her widowed mother. She had an opportunity in the 1975 Jubilee Year to visit pilgrimage sites in Rome, Fatima, Lourdes and the Holy Land. She had a great devotion to Our Lady of Fatima. In 1976, she organized a series of holy hours for the Ukrainian Catholic parishes of Winnipeg, honouring Our Lady’s request to pray for the conversion of Russia.

Wherever she served and lived, all will remember her warmth, hospitality and welcoming smile. She truly exemplified the charism of our Community which is “To Serve is To Love.”

A special thank you to Drs. Taras, Andrea Babick and to the staff of Holy Family Home.

A Parastas service will be celebrated by Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak, OSBM, on Tuesday April 29, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Divine Liturgy will be celebrated by Bishop Andriy Rabiy on Wednesday, April 30, at 10:00 a.m. Both services will be held in the Sisters’ chapel at 131 Aberdeen Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba.  Interment will be at Holy Family Cemetery.

The services will be livestreamed at: Tuesday: https://www.youtube.com/live/bFstML3eIzQ Wednesday: https://www.youtube.com/live/aKhv7yX7vhE

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Holy Family Home or to the Lubov Foundation.

May Sister Jacinta’s memory be eternal!