With a heavy heart and great sadness, the family announces the passing of our dear mother Mrs. Pauline Piruckyj on May 19, 2015. The Lord had given her 90 years with us but now it was time for her to be reunited with her late husband Omelan.
She was born on January 29, 1925 in the western Ukraine village of Zavydovychi. Mom grew up on a rural farm but soon her life was to change. At 16 years of age, the German authorities took her to work in Austria. Over the next four years, Mom ended up cooking the meals on a farm community and this experience followed her through life. In 1948, she arrived in Canada under a year long contract to work as a cook at a Catholic children’s orphanage in New Westminster, British Columbia. After the year, she moved to Fort William where she met and later married the love of her life, Omelan. Together they raised a family and shared a dream for 53 wonderful years.
Mom was a passionate cook who amazed family and friends with her delicious culinary and baking creations. Everyone always asked for her recipes. If she welcomed you into her home as a guest, you were treated as someone special. This was Mom’s way. She also did not shy away from hard work. In addition to her family and home, Mom retired in 1989 after working in the kitchen at McKellar Hospital for 25 years.
She enjoyed the fresh produce from her garden, going blueberry and mushroom picking, and catching more fish than the rest of us. One time, we left in the evening to go smelt fishing, and Mom was having luck scooping them up. A man asked when she was going home. She replied, “In the morning.” We were the only two people on the river bank when the sun came up. She loved an adventure.
Faith and her Ukrainian culture were important to her. Over the years, she was an active member of the Church of The Transfiguration, the Catholic Women’s League, and the Ukrainian Youth Association.
Mom was a lover of all animals, especially her three dogs over the last 33 years, her Bobkos. Likewise, she looked forward to the holidays when her grandchildren Natalie and Roman spent the summers in Thunder Bay. Now her great grandchildren were becoming an important part of her life. She loved them all.
Pauline will be lovingly remembered by her children Hanya (Jurij) of Toronto, Olya (Toronto), John (Thunder Bay). Proud grandmother “Baba” to Roman (Toronto) and Natalie (Dex) and great grandchildren Boris, Marko, and Katarina (Oakville). Also surviving is her brother Ivan along with numerous nieces and nephews in Ukraine. She was predeceased by her husband Omelan (2002), her parents Fedir and Katarina, and her siblings Anna, Maria, Natalka, Justyna, and Myhailo.
We would like to express our grateful thanks to the doctors and nurses of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre for the care they provided. To Dr. Masoudi for his outstanding dedication and compassion. To Amy, the palliative care RN, whose talks brought us comfort.
The love, guidance, and strength Mom instilled in us will live on and be treasured. She is smiling because Dad is waiting to begin another journey with her. Mama, we miss you terribly. You will never be forgotten. Vichnaya Pamyat.
Funeral Services will be held on Monday, May 25, 2015, when family and friends will gather for Funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. at the Church of the Transfiguration, celebrated by Rev. Terry Sawchuk. Prayers will be offered Sunday, May 24, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. in the Blake Funeral Chapel. If friends desire, memorials to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation would be appreciated.
