Obituary of HELEN BOBEI

HELEN BOBEI (nee BURTNIAK) Peacefully on Thursday, April 18, 2013, Helen Bobei, age 93, passed away at River Park Gardens Personal Care Home. She is survived by her daughter, Diane Saranchuk (Walter), grandchildren: Michael and Marc Bobei, Suzanne Wowchuk (Paul), Angela Chabluk (Terry), Jeff (Cheryl) and Stephen (Sara-Jane) Saranchuk, and great-grandchildren: Dylann Bobei, Ryan and Amy Wowchuk, and Matthew, Luke, Andrew, and Samson Saranchuk. She is also survived by her brothers, John and Peter (Aldena) Burtniak, and sister, Frances Andres (Tom). Helen was predeceased by Michael, her husband of 52 years, by her son, Orest, her parents, Nellie and Wasyl Burtniak, and two brothers and four sisters. Helen was born in 1919, in the Dauphin Municipality where she attended school. After marrying in 1941, she and Michael lived in Dauphin until 1955, when they took up permanent residence in Winnipeg. She attended hairdressing school and subsequently joined the teaching staff at Marvel and Pollock Hairdressing Schools, where she taught hairdressing for many years. Helen was a life-long member of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada and attended Sunday services regularly as long as her health permitted. She was an Honourary Member of the Ukrainian Women’s Association of Canada, having served as its representative on the Winnipeg Council of Women. Lovingly referred to as "Nana" by her grandchildren, she will be remembered as an avid bowler and bingo player, and for the special knitted slippers that she made. Special thanks to the nurses and support staff at River Park Gardens for their compassionate and dedicated care of Helen for the last three years. Prayer service will be held Sunday, April 21, at 7:00pm, at the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral, 1175 Main St., Winnipeg. Funeral service will be held on Monday, April 22, at 10:00am, also at the Cathedral, with Very Rev. Gregory Mielnik and Reverend Gene Maximiuk officiating. Interment will follow at Glen Eden Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, should friends so desire, donations may be made in Helen’s memory to the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral. May her memory be eternal. VICHNAYA PAM’YAT MEMORY ETERNAL