Sonja Klymenko

It is with profound sadness that the family of Sonja Irene Klymenko, age 82 years and a resident of Thunder Bay, announce her passing on Wednesday February 22, 2017 at St. Joseph’s Care Group Hospital, surrounded by her devoted children and grandchildren. Sonja was born on December 3, 1934 in Fort William, Ontario and was the only child of Dmytro and Maria Saplywy. She is survived, and will be greatly missed, by her children Lisa, Tammy, and Jerry (Anne) and grandchildren Matthew, Ryan and Naomi. She is predeceased by the love of her life, her husband Dmytro Klymenko, her parents Dmytro and Maria Saplywy and her sister-in-law Lena Twerdy. 

As a young girl, Sonja could be seen helping her parents in their family-owned Heath Park Confectionary corner store on Brock Street. She attended Heath Park elementary school and Fort William Collegiate High School. She enjoyed young children and the quest for knowledge and decided to pursue a career in teaching, graduating from North Bay Teachers College in 1954. Sonja met her future husband Dmytro (immigrated from Berdyansk, Ukraine) in Fort William; they later married in 1956 and started a beautiful life together that lasted 56 years. Together they built the family camp on Dog Lake where many fun summers were spent together with Auntie Lena, her children and grandchildren, who were her pride and joy. Sonja’s hobbies included gardening, baking, reading, pysanky (Ukrainian Easter Eggs) and preserving and promoting the Ukrainian language and culture.

She was a committed stay-at-home mother for over 12 years, before she decided to go back to teaching and started with the Lakehead Public School Board, where she instilled her love of learning on many of her students. Sonja taught at C.D. Howe School, Claude E. Garten School, Vance Chapman School, and St. James School.

Sonja was very proud of her Ukrainian heritage and always looked for opportunities to share her love of the Ukrainian culture with family, friends and children. She co-taught the Ukrainian Language Heritage program with her good friend Olya Sawchuk. Sonja was a long time member of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of St. Volodymyr Church, sang in the choir, and while she had her health, never missed an opportunity to help make pyrohy every Thursday at the Church. She was a member of the Ukrainian Millenium Choir, Daughters of Ukraine, and Children of Chernobyl (Thunder Bay Chapter). 

The family would like to thank all of Sonja’s long-time friends and neighbours, especially Evelyn Polich, Olya Sawchuk, and Olga Martyniuk; your friendship meant the world to Sonja who always looked forward to her neighbourhood walks, coffee get-togethers and church socials. We would also like to thank the doctors and nurses at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and St. Josephs Care Group, 4th floor North who provided outstanding compassionate care for Sonja in her last days. 

Panakhyda (memorial service) for Sonja will be held Wednesday March 1st when family and friends will gather in Sargent and Son Chapel at 11 :00 am with Rev. Fr. Lubomyr Hluchaniuk officiating. The memorial service will be followed by a luncheon for family and friends. Visitation will be held Tuesday evening, February 28, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm with Panakhyda (memorial service) to be offered at 7:00 pm in the Sargent & Son Chapel. Cremation will take place at a later date with interment to take place at Mountain View Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to St, Joseph’s Hospital Foundation of Thunder Bay, Ukrainian Orthodox Church of St. Volodymyr or Children of Chernobyl (Thunder Bay Chapter) would be gratefully appreciated. Arrangements are in care of Sargent and Son Funeral Directors, 21 N. Court Street. On-line condolences may be made at www.sargentandson.com.