Obituary of THERESA (TERRY) KURYK

THERESA (TERRY) KURYK (nee Nyznyk) Theresa (Terry) Kuryk (nee Nyznyk) passed away peacefully in Virden, Manitoba on Saturday, November 26, 2016. Terry was born on August 29, 1916 in Sarto, Manitoba. She will be sadly missed by her family: daughter Maureen (Bob) Senff and her family; Joey (Gerri) Senff, Jake, Horizon, Zephyr, and great-granddaughter Brynn; Libby (Gary) Clark, Alex and Brina; Danny (Kim) Senff, Alexandra and Nicholas; Rebecca (Scott) Ruzicka, Hunter and Tyson; Rachel (Les) Bunn, Aimee, Adam, and Ariel; son Jeffrey (Maxine) Kuryk; and many nieces and nephews. Terry was predeceased by her parents Demetrius and Tekla(Novak) Nyznyk; by her husband Bohdan (Bud) in 2002 after 60 years of marriage; and by her siblings Michael, Carl, Frances, Anthony, Josephine, Martha, Leonard, Peter, and Paul. After attending Normal School (Teacher’s College) Terry taught at the following schools: Machray, Lac du Bonnet, Ralph Brown, Glenwood, Victor Major, and Mountbatten over a 38 year career. Grade 3 was her favourite age group where she taught every student to write as beautifully as she did. When she approached her principal in 1981 to inform him of her impending retirement, he had a hard time believing she was about to turn 65. He thought she was still in her 50’s! As a teacher she played the mandolin to the delight of her students. Terry was an active sportswoman, involved in baseball, bowling, badminton, and volleyball. After retirement she started an affordable badminton club for seniors and tried her hand at slo-pitch. She stopped bowling in her nineties in order to regularly visit her sister Martha and her brother Peter who resided in nursing homes. She drove by herself until she was 96! It was a matter of great pride for her that she took driving lessons from Joe Vine in 1961 and was the only woman in her and Dad’s family to drive. Mom was the quintessential hostess who loved to entertain her family and friends whenever possible. Her shortbread cookies, lemon meringue and apple pies were legendary. Holiday meals were wonderful. Terry was a world traveler, having visited every country in Europe with sojourns to Africa, Thailand, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. On her first visit to the Ukraine she was not allowed to leave Kyiv, but on her second trip regulations had relaxed, and she was able to hire a car to take her to the country village where her relatives still lived. Even as she approached 100, she still hoped to visit Hawaii. Terry was a faithful member of Christ the King Roman Catholic Church for over 60 years. After living in Winnipeg for 90 years, Mom was accepted as a patient by Dr. Van Niekerk of Virden and was only 20 minutes away from Maureen instead of 3 hours. It was so much better for everyone and she was a very pleasant resident at the Westman Home. Rachel’s children were able to visit Mom frequently, and she sat up and smiled when she saw the three blondies, even though she struggled with dementia. Three of her grandchildren and seven of her great-grandchildren travelled to Virden to celebrate her 100th birthday in August! The funeral service will be held in Winnipeg on Friday, December 9, 2016 at 1:00 pm at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main St. Visitation will be one-half hour prior to the service. Interment to follow at Elmwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Joey Senff, Danny Senff, Scott Ruzicka, Les Bunn, Jake Senff, and Alex Clark. The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to Dr. Fitzgerald, Dale C. and Christine C., and the nursing staff and aides at the Westman Nursing Home for their care and compassion, and to everyone who visited Mom, especially Father Eric, Wilf and Margaret Barre, and other kind people of Virden. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society or Siloam Mission. May the road rise up to meet you May the wind be always at your back May the sun shine warm upon your face And the rains fall soft upon your fields And until we meet again