SISTER ANDRONICA ANNIE SPILCHUK

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SISTER ANDRONICA ANNIE SPILCHUK

SSMI

1929 - 2023

Sister Andronica (Annie) Spilchuk of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate, fell asleep in the Lord at Holy Family Home, Winnipeg, MB on November 24, 2023. She was 93 years old and 76 years in religious life.

Annie was born on December 4, 1929, in Bedfordville, SK. Her parents, Dmytro and Anna (nee Spilchak) had emigrated to this district from Yamnytsia, near present day Ivano-Frankivsk, in Ukraine. Her father immigrated in 1914; his wife and two daughters, Dora and Mary, followed in 1921. A son, William, and two daughters, Kathleen and Annie, were born in Canada.

Sister Andronica often shared that she owed her vocation to the witness of her parents who through their faith in God and service to their neighbours shaped the way the family lived and shared.

At the age of 16, on January 17, 1947 she entered the SSMI Novitiate in Ancaster, Ontario. She received her habit on July 18, 1947, taking the religious name Andronica. She made first profession of vows on July 19, 1949, and final profession, August 15, 1955.

Sister Andronica was first missioned to the United States, where she served in Food Services at SSMI institutions in Sloatsburg, NY and Philadelphia, PA. She returned to Canada, to the Novitiate in Ancaster, where she trained Novices in the arts of cooking, gardening and canning.

Sister Andronica was missioned to Holy Family Home in Winnipeg in 1964, serving as Kitchen Supervisor until her retirement in 1995. She was known to everyone for her deep commitment, energy, and loving care in the management of the Food Services Department. She took a variety of courses in Food Service Management and Food Service Supervision in order to better serve those who were under her care. Her culinary talents gave Holy Family meals a 5-Star rating. Giving of herself so selflessly to the mission, she truly lived the motto, To Serve is to Love.

In her 76 years as a Sister Servant, Sister Andronica served her religious community, Novitiate, Academies, Personal Care Homes, clergy, Church and people. She gladly shared her gifts of hospitality, organization and creativity in the art of cooking and developed them with dedication and perseverance.

She moved to Toronto in 1996 and returned to Winnipeg in 2009, to re-retire where she enjoyed walking in the Park and visiting residents at Holy Family Home.

In 2011, due to failing health, she was admitted to Holy Family Home. She was now to be served and cared for in the Home in which she served and cared for others, for many years.

Sister Andronica was predeceased by her parents, sisters, Dora (Ilko Kushnerenko), Mary (Alex Halipchak), and Kathleen (Sister Fotenia), and brother William (Sophie). She is survived by several loving nieces and nephews with their families and many cousins, and the entire SSMI Congregation.

Funeral Services were held at Bethany Home with Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak, OSBM officiating and at St. Joseph’s Ukrainian Catholic Church with Bishop Andriy Rabiy officiating. Interment followed at Holy Family Cemetery.

Special thanks to the staff and Dr. Babick at Holy Family Home who took such good care of her and to Cropo Funeral Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Holy Family Home.

May Sister Andronica’s memory

be eternal!

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 02, 2023, Dec 02, 2023