Jeanette MICHALYSHYN

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MICHALYSHYN: It is with much sadness and heavy hearts that the family of Jeanette Irene Michalyshyn announce her peaceful passing on Tuesday Nov. 29, 2016 at Brandon Assiniboine Centre. Jeanette was born on the farm near Fenwood, Saskatchewan on February 20, 1931 to early Ukrainian pioneers- Nicholas and Mary Tymkiw (nee Haryliw) where she would receive her early education. Mom came from a large family of nine, 5 sisters and 4 brothers and they all worked very hard on the farm as mom’s dad was not a well man. Mom often missed school she said, because of the work that needed to be done. Mom’s family moved to Solsgirth, Manitoba and the next year, mom’s dad passed away leaving grandma with 9 children and a brand new farm to take care of! They all worked very hard and made the farm flourish for the 10 years they lived there. Their farm was a gathering place for all the young people in the area. Mom said that several of her family members played instruments and sang and many barn dances were held on Saturday nights. Mom met our dad Mike in Oakburn at dad’s store, Michalyshyn Bros. General Store, and they were married very happily for 56 years before dad passed away in 2010. In 1959, all mom’s family moved to Calgary, by this point, mom and dad had 2 children and they were very busy with town life in Oakburn. They went on to have 2 more children and now they made Calgary a vacation destination! Mom maintained a huge garden and she did much canning every year. We often had company stop by and they were always fed. Mom always had 2 large freezers of homemade perohi, perishki, homemade koubassa, and all kinds of baked goods. We had visits from many family members from far and wide, all the local priests stopped in regularly, and we also had the occasional salesman come in that dad would bring in from the store. In 1974, mom decided she wanted to work outside the home and she started at the Shoal Lake Nursing Home as a nurse’s aide. She loved it and went on to work for 19 years there. Mom and dad were long time members of Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Oakburn and mom belonged to the women’s league for over 50 years. She loved helping out with all the events that the league was involved in. When mom moved to Brandon after dad’s passing, she was quickly put to work pinching perohi and making holoptsi at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church. Mom’s faith was very important to her. It has guided her throughout her life and especially in the last year. She so often said “What will be, will be, it is in God’s hands” Mom loved going out with her lady friends. “ The Birthday Ladies” as they were affectionately called. They enjoyed birthday celebrations, bingos, trips to the casino, and visiting. Even when mom moved to Brandon, a car load of women came to celebrate her 85th birthday. Mom was absolutely thrilled! Exactly seven years ago mom and some of the” Birthday Ladies” decided to go on a bus trip to Nashville, Tennessee. They had a wonderful, memorable time together. When dad passed, mom moved to Brandon. It was a lot of change for her but she settled in quite nicely. She became friends with people in her senior’s complex and regularly met a group of women in the mall for coffee. In the last 3 years, mom had been battling health issues very bravely. She successfully beat stomach cancer and lymphoma but in the last year and a half since her son, Wayne passed away suddenly, it seemed her light was not shining as brightly. She struggled every day with the heartache and we feel that this hastened forth the stomach cancer again. This last year was very hard for her in every way and she always maintained that her faith was guiding her. Mom will be deeply missed by her daughters: Lynn (Dave) Stamm, Janice (Dr. Joe) Mezibroski, all of Winnipeg and Michelle (Darcy) Gerelus of Brandon; grandchildren: Tyler Stamm, Jenna and Karah Gerelus, and Justin and Stefan Mezibroski. She will be missed by her sisters and brother from Calgary; Helen Tryhuk, Margaret Herchak, Leonard Tymkiw, Gloria Tymkiw, and sister in law Mary Tymkiw, sister Josephine (Charles) Barnes of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Mervin and Sonia Michalyshen of Winnipeg and numerous nephews and nieces, and cousins. The funeral service was held at the Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Church, Oakburn, at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 3, 2016. Interment followed in the parish cemetery. Father Mykhaylo Khomitskyy officiated. If friends so desire, donations may be made to the Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Oakburn, Manitoba or CancerCare Manitoba Foundation. A memorial service will be held at a later date in Brandon.Remembrances and condolences maybe emailed to raesfs@mymts.net.Rae’s Funeral Home of Shoal Lake was in care of arrangements.Vichnaya Pam’yat

As published in Brandon Sun on Dec 17, 2016