LILLIAN PODOLSKY (ELIUK)

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LILLIAN PODOLSKY (nee ELIUK) Passed away peacefully on July 30, 2009 at Seven Oaks Hospital. Lillian was born in Arbakka, MB on February 23, 1919. A middle child of 13, she is survived by sisters Celia and Olga, and her seven children: Arlene (Ivan) Kowalchuk, John (Sylvia), Judy, Ken, Audrey (Raymond) Mireault, Robert (Iris) and Valerie (Bill) Badlo, 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. As a young girl, Lillian enjoyed photography, gardening, drawing, dancing, singing and working as a clerk in her father's store/post office, and the outdoors. She was proud of the fact that she helped to paint the dome of the Sundown Ukrainian Orthodox Church; a story she loved to tell, along with others of her pioneer life. As a young married woman, she lived in Sundown, then Vancouver, returning to Manitoba leaving her beloved BC to settle in Gardenton, MB where she devoted her life to raise her children. In 1974, Lillian moved to Winnipeg and began working at the St. Boniface Hospital, where she enjoyed her job, her colleagues and translating Ukrainian into English. She retired in 1984 and traveled to the British Isles, Ukraine, Eastern Canada and USA, Hawaii, and Alaska. She enjoyed swimming, shopping sprees at Eaton's, Big 4 Sales, California Fruit and lunching with friends. Her greatest joy was spending time with family. She took an active, loving and maternal role in her grandchildren's lives. Over the past 14 years, Lillian enjoyed life at St. Mary the Protectress Villa, where she interacted with other residents, participated in Ukrainian activities and was an avid reader. Lillian's life is characterized by high moral standards, integrity, hard work, family, community, kindness, generosity, her Ukrainian heritage and devotion to God. Funeral services will be at the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Mary the Protectress, 820 Burrows Ave., Winnipeg, MB at 10:00 a.m. today (August 5, 2009). Flowers are gratefully declined, memorial donations may be made to the restoration fund of the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Mary the Protectress, 820 Burrows Ave., Winnipeg, MB R2X 3A9. KLASSEN FUNERAL HOME 1897 Henderson Hwy. 338-0331 Send expressions of sympathy at www.mem.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 05, 2009