MARY HORBATIUK

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MARY HORBATIUK It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our mother, baba, and great-baba who passed away peacefully in her sleep on November 23, 2013 at the Park Manor Personal Care Home. She will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by her children: Gladys Homeniuk, Peter Gula (Olga), Lawrence Horbatiuk (Connie), nine grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, plus numerous nieces and nephews in Canada, USA, and Ukraine. Mary was predeceased by her first husband Petri Gula during the war in Europe, followed by her second husband Michael Horbatiuk and her final life long partner Stefaen Majchrzak. She was also predeceased by one grandson, seven brothers and sisters and her mother and father. Mary was born in Buchach, Ukraine on June 19, 1920 as one of nine children to Anastasia and Theodore Buchok, She was married at the young and tender age of 15 to Petri Gula and at 19 years of age, started their own family. During the Second World War and after the loss of her first husband, she was taken to Germany along with her two infant children, to work as a labourer on a farm. In 1949 after four years in Germany, with children in tow, she immigrated to Canada arriving first in Montreal by ship and then onward to Winnipeg by train. Mary found employment in Winnipeg at the Fort Garry Hotel as a chamber maid. It was during this time that she met her second husband. She relocated to a farm in Landerville with Michael where they lived for a short while prior to moving to Lac du Bonnet and in 1951 gave birth to her third child. Mary took on the role of housewife and had everything organized for each and every day, whether it was baking, laundry, gardening, house cleaning to ensuring that everyone was fed. She was a fantastic cook, and soon after the death of her second husband, in order to make ends meet, Mary took on employment as a cook both at The Lakeview Hotel and later at Casey's Inn Hotel. Her culinary expertise filled the restaurant for a taste of her home cooking. As time passed Mary met Steve and years later they built a new house in town. Later, they would move to Kelowna, BC. Feeling homesick and wanting to be closer to family, after five years they returned to Winnipeg and took up residence in St. Vital After Steve's passing, Mary's health began to fail as well. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and briefly lived with her daughter in Transcona prior to taking up residence at the Park Manor Personal Care Home. She remained here up until her passing. Mary's family would all like to give a special thank you to the staff at Park Manor for their love and outstanding care of our Mother and Baba. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Alzheimer's Society, Park Manor or a charity of one's choice. Prayers will be held Wednesday, November 27 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church. Divine Liturgy will take place Thursday, November 28 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Michael's, 400 Day St., Transcona with Rev. Fr. Michael Krochak officiating. Interment to follow at Transcona Cemetery, 5014 Dugald Rd. Funeral Arrangements in Care of Wheeler Funeral Home Cemetery & Crematorium 1800 Day Street (204) 224-1525

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 26, 2013