IVAN (JOHN) MELNYCKY

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IVAN (JOHN) MELNYCKY It is with heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved Tato (Father), Dido and Pradido, Ivan (John) Melnycky with his children at his side on January 10, 2015, four days short of his 93rd birthday Ivan was a Ukrainian New Year's baby, born on January 14, 1922 in the village of Dobrohostiv, Drohobych district of Western Ukraine, the sixth of seven children born to Mykola and Anastasia. He lost his father as a young child and was hired out at the age of eight as a stable boy to help his family survive. When war broke out, equipped with three grades of schooling and some apprenticeship as a carpenter, Ivan travelled west to Germany where he was employed as an industrial laborer and later a farm worker at Hollinstedt. It was there that he met the love of his life, Anastasia Lysenko a Ukrainian Ostarbeiter (Eastern Worker) assigned to a factory in the neighboring city of Northeim. In 1945, in the ruins of post-war Germany, they were married in a displaced persons camp at Gottingen, where their daughter Vera was born the following year. The young family was blessed to be accepted by Canada as refugees. In 1948 Ivan came to Canada alone to work as a farm labourer at Portage La Prairie before working as a lumberjack in northwestern Ontario. He earned enough money to pay for Anastasia and Vera to come to Canada, to buy a fur coat for Anastasia and a large doll for Vera when they were reunited in 1949. Ivan and Anastasia settled in Winnipeg where their children Peter and Nina were born. Ivan worked for thirty years at Dominion Bridge Ltd. as a fitter welder. He was an active member of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, attending St. Josaphat's Parish and later the Sts. Vladimir and Olga Cathedral. He supported many community organizations including the Plast Ukrainian Youth Association, the Chytalnia Prosvita Reading Association, the Canadian Ukrainian Institute Prosvita Seniors Club, the Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Centre Oseredok and the Dumka Ukrainian Chorus. Ivan followed a simple credo of hard work and honesty in life. He instilled in his family a love for their religious and cultural heritage and an appreciation for the great opportunities which Canada offered them. However, never a day went by when he didn't reminisce about his beloved Ukraine and ache over her future. Ivan had an encyclopedic knowledge and love for Ukrainian folk songs and poetry. He shared his repertoire with family and friends, but was never more proud than when he sang the Ukrainian National Anthem and O Canada with the Dumka Choir. He sang and prayed his way through every hardship and obstacle he encountered in his life. Ivan will forever be remembered for his generous nature and love for his family, always putting the needs of others before his own. He started out with nothing and gave everything. His work ethic and accomplishments in life were admired by all, as was the beautiful garden he tended, up until this last summer. He was predeceased by his parents and siblings, his son-in-law William Matwichyna and his beloved wife of 68 years, Anastasia in 2013. He is survived and will be forever missed by children Vera Matwichyna (+William), Peter (Nadia Ruday), Nina Melnychuk (Ihor), grandchildren Danylo (Stacey), Darya (Florian), Tanya (Anthony), Krystya (Paul), Julian, Natalka, Olenka (Steve), Taras and great-grandchildren Billy, Katie, Anastasia, Nicolas, Amadeus, Christian, Andrew, Alexis, Sofia and Austin. He is survived as well by nephews and nieces and extended family in his native Ukraine. Prayers will be sung at Korban Funeral Chapel, 907 Main St., on Monday January 19 at 7:30 p.m. Funeral service and Divine Liturgy will be celebrated with Rt. Rev. Msgr. Mitrat M. Buyachok officiating at Sts. Vladimir Olga Cathedral, 115 McGregor St. on Tuesday, January 20 at 10:00 a.m., with interment to follow at All Saints Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests those wishing to donate in Ivan's memory to consider the Sts. Vladimir and Olga Cathedral building fund, 115 McGregor St. Winnipeg, MB R2W 4V6, The Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko or the Canada Ukraine Foundation both care of 952 Main Street Winnipeg, MB, R2W 3P4 or the charity of their choice. VICHNAYA PAMIAT - ETERNAL MEMORY KORBAN FUNERAL CHAPEL 204-956-2193

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 17, 2015