Obituary of OLGA KATHRYN KOWALCHUK

OLGA KATHRYN KOWALCHUK (nee Mazur) June 27, 1934 – May 25, 2012 It is with deepest sadness that we announce the passing of our Mother and Baba, Olga Kathryn Kowalchuk at St. Boniface Hospital on Friday, May 25th, 2012, at the age of 77. She will be sadly missed by her daughters Shelley (Gary) and Michelle (Mykola), grandchildren Talia, Max, Rachel, step-grandchildren Chris (Jessica), Mike (Melissa), Jonathan (Sara) and step great-grandchild Hayley. She was predeceased by her loving husband Michael, her daughter Cheryl Ann, her sister Lillian Keller and brother Alec. Olga was born in Angusville, Manitoba on June 27, 1934, youngest daughter of the late John and Jessie Mazur. Though her formative years were spent on the family farm, education and learning were highly valued by her family and her father strongly encouraged her to continue her schooling. She left home to complete high school in Angusville and once she was done she moved to Winnipeg to attend Teacher’s College. She began teaching at the age of nineteen in Woodnorth, Manitoba. Olga married Michael on October 20, 1956 in Oakburn, Manitoba. Though many women or her time stopped once they had started a family, Olga loved teaching and continued to do so throughout small towns in Manitoba. She taught in Binscarth, at Braddock School, Roger’s School, St. John’s School and finally in Sandy Lake, while finishing her B. Ed and B.A. through correspondence, night classes and summer school. Throughout these years, Olga was deeply involved in the communities where she taught and in her community of Oakburn. It was these two activities, work and community service that would define her life. Their first daughter, Cheryl Ann was born in 1957, but died in a tragic accident in January of 1961. Though heartbroken, Olga and Mike, went on to have two more daughters – Shelley and Michelle, whom they loved deeply. Though juggling life as a very active farm wife, and full-time teacher, she also created a culturally active life for her family. Olga’s Ukrainian heritage was extremely important to her, a love that came from her parents. She raised ‘the girls’ to sing and play Ukrainian music. Being Ukrainian-Canadian defined her and though she taught many subjects over the years, it was teaching Ukrainian that brought the family to Winnipeg. The family moved to Winnipeg in 1973 and Olga taught in Winnipeg at Morse Place Junior High, while commuting 3 hours west each weekend to be with her farming husband. She ran two households 200 miles apart for 8 years until Mike’s retirement from farming in 1981. She continued to teach at Morse Place till her retirement in 1994. Teaching was her paid position, but on moving to Winnipeg, she worked tirelessly at her church, Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral, holding numerous executive positions of the Ukrainian Woman’s Association (UWAC), and on the Church Council. She was Provincial UWAC Executive Secretary and later President. She was a board member of St. Andrew’s College, and a member of the Shevchenko Foundation, the Manitoba Provincial Congress and the Manitoba Council of Women. In 2006, Olga was awarded the National Self-Reliance League of Canada top award for Community Service. Olga was dedicated to her church and these organizations and instilled in her children and grandchildren the same work ethic and volunteerism that was so much a part of her life. We would like to thank all the people who cared for mom during her illness; Dr. John Mayba; her respiratory doctors: Dr. Bshouti and Dr. Eschen; Dr. Pinnick and all the wonderful, caring people of the Palliative Program and the Palliative Unit staff at St. Boniface Hospital. Your dedication and kindness were so appreciated – you are angels. Prayer Service will be held on Tuesday, May 29 at 7:00 p.m. at the Holy Trinity Metropolitan Orthodox Cathedral, 1175 Main Street, Winnipeg. Funeral Rite will be held on Wednesday, May 30 at 10:00 a.m. also at the Cathedral with Co-celebrants Very Rev. Archpriest Gregory Mielnik, Rev. Fr. Eugene Maximiuk and Fr. Alexander Harkavyi. Entombment to follow at Glen Eden Memorial Gardens. Donations can be made to Holy Trinity Metropolitan Church or St. Andrew’s College, U of M in honour of Olga’s dedication to these organizations. Mom, we will miss you so much; words cannot express it. Vichnaya Pam’yat – Memory Eternal.