MARY MARUSCHAK (MYROWICH)

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MARY MARUSCHAK
(nee MYROWICH)

After a brief illness our cherished wife, mother and babusya passed away peacefully on Friday, April 12, 2019, with family by her side.
Mary was born in Ledwyn, Manitoba to Michael and Paulina Myrowich who had immigrated to Canada from western Ukraine. Mary grew up on the family farm helping her parents as they built their life in Canada. She was the only girl in the family and learned to joke and hold her own amidst her four brothers. She was always a patient and kind person, but she often told the story of being so fed up with her older brother Fred's teasing that she once threw an iron at him that went straight through the window. Despite this, she was lifelong friends with her four brothers and their spouses, and spent many happy times with them and their beloved mother Paulina at the family farm.
Mary completed high school in Teulon and Normal School in Winnipeg, and taught in Sandy Hook and Sprague before moving to Winnipeg and teaching at Carpathia School until 1969. Always friendly and genuinely interested in others, Mary made many close friends during her teaching days and kept in touch with them for the rest of her life. Beginning in the 1980s Mary returned to teaching at the Holy Trinity Nursery School or Sadochok. For over 20 years she delighted in providing a loving and gentle introduction to school for many young children. After retiring from Sadochok she always took great pleasure from meeting up with her Sadochok children and Sadochok mothers and hearing about their successes.
In 1967 Mary married Peter Maruschak after he first caught her eye as he dozed during services at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral. They were married and constant companions for almost 52 years. Mary supported Peter as he built his business Maruschak-Atlas.
Mary was a dedicated and loving parent to her daughter Patricia and son Stephen. She was always involved in her children's lives and supportive and proud of all their interests and achievements. She loved being a mother and was thrilled to welcome her grandsons Serhiy and Ihor into her life. Her son-in-law Keith held a special place in her heart and she had great respect for him. Her unconditional love, guidance, pep talks and occasional lectures will be deeply missed.
Mary was the heart and soul of our extended family and a beloved aunt to her many nieces and nephews. One of her greatest pleasures was cooking for others and she often told us how happy it made her to watch her grandsons, Serhiy and Ihor eat the meals she prepared. Her Ukrainian Christmas Eve suppers, for anywhere from 12 to 24 people, were legendary and the highlight of the year for our entire extended family. Even after she handed over the cooking duties to others she remained the executive chef who taught us not just how to cook, but also how to make a home warm and welcoming.
During the last week of her life Mary's lifetime of kindness and generosity was paid back in full as she received a steady stream of visitors and phone calls from devoted family members and close friends. Her loving husband, children, son-in-law and grandchildren were all together with her for one final family visit before she slipped away peacefully.
Mary was predeceased by her parents, Michael and Paulina, and her brothers, Michael, Fred and John. She will be lovingly remembered by her husband Peter, son Stephen, daughter Patricia, son-in-law Keith Swinton, and much loved grandsons, Serhiy and Ihor, stepson Ray, her brother Alec Myrowich, his wife Lorraine, and her many nieces and nephews.
Prayers will be held Wednesday, April 17 at 7:00 p.m. and the funeral service on Thursday, April 18 at 10:00 a.m. Both will be at the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral where Mary and Peter have been members for over 50 years.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Holy Trinity Catheral or to a charity of your choice.
Publish Date: Apr 16, 2019

MARY MARUSCHAK
(nee MYROWICH)

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing on April 12, 2019, of Mary Maruschak (nee Myrowich), our much loved wife, mother, and grandmother.
A longer obituary with funeral information will follow.
Publish Date: Apr 13, 2019

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 13, 2019, Apr 16, 2019