HELENA (OLENA) PUCHIR

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HELENA (OLENA) PUCHIR Suddenly and sadly we lost our beloved Mama on Saturday, February 1, 2014. Helena (Olena) was born in the village Petna, district of Gorlice, Poland to Michal and Anna (nee Hlywa) Tychanycz. As the eldest of nine children, big shoulders were a must as Helena helped to care for her younger siblings, cycled many miles to sell produce from the family farm and adjusted to the family's forced resettlement in 1947 to Zielona Gora, Western Poland. Helena arrived in Canada in 1965 and found work in a sewing factory. After meeting and marrying Mychajlo and being blessed with their first daughter, Helena focused on her family. Soon, a second daughter was born. We were nourished by her love and delicious cooking and baking. Mama was a long-time parishioner at Sts. Vladimir and Olga Cathedral where she loved to sing the Liturgy and pray the rosary. She belonged to the UCWLC and volunteered every Wednesday with the upkeep of the church. Anne and Tara mourn the loss of their beloved Mama as do her brothers, Ivan, Roman, Wasyl; sisters, Yulia and Stefania; and many nieces and nephews (all of Zielona Gora, Poland). Helena was predeceased by her beloved husband Mychajlo (2011); her parents; her youngest sibling Petro (2011); and two brothers in infancy, Dmytro and Milko. Panachyda will be sung 6:00 p.m., Sunday, February 9 at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Sts. Vladimir and Olga, 115 McGregor St. Divine Liturgy will be celebrated 10:00 a.m. Monday, February 10 also at the Cathedral with Fr. Z. Shwaluk, OSBM officiating. Interment will follow in All Saints Cemetery. We owe gratitude to Fr. Z. Shwaluk for the Anointing of the Sick and to Msgr. M. Buyachok for being with us when we know St. Peter was calling Mama's name. "I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing. Roman Cavalry choirs are singing" from Viva la Vida or Death and all His Friends (Coldplay). Our Mama thanks our Lord God for His many Graces and we thank God for the gift of our Mama. VICHNAYA PAMYAT KORBAN FUNERAL CHAPEL 204-956-2193

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 08, 2014