It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our sweet, beloved mother and grandmother Zena Hrehorowycz, age 92, at Hogarth Riverview Manor on March 5th, 2022. Zena was born December 25, 1929 in Kozly, a small village in Poland. The village was overrun by the German army during WWII and the villagers had only minutes to leave their homes. She arrived in Canada on the 26th of November, 1948, at the age of 18. It was in Fort William that she met the love of her life, Leon Hrehorowycz. Together they opened and ran a small grocery store on Finlayson Street. Once the store was sold they moved to Valour Place where lifelong friendships were formed.
Zena navigated a number of traumas and did so with grace, courage and strength. Her resilience was reflected in her ongoing devotion to her children and friends. Her strength was reflected in moving forward in life following the sudden, unexpected passing of Leon in 1997. At the age of 80 she was diagnosed with dementia and once again she faced those new challenges with all the fortitude she could muster.
Zena is survived by her daughters Julie (Mike Payette) Woit and Alice (Richard) Hopkins, grandchildren Cassandra, Nick and Chris. She was predeceased by her parents Theodore and Dora and her brothers Walter and Boris.
We would like to thank her family physician Dr. Capricci and the staff at the Walford, who cared for her during these difficult times. We would also like to thank the paramedics, ER staff, hospital healthcare providers who cared for her with compassion and understanding. We thank the staff and nurses of the Transitional Care Unit and for the final stage of Zena’s journey we are profoundly grateful for the care and compassion provided by the staff and nurses of 2S Bluebell. Zena was often described by caregivers as “sweet” and this aptly describes her overall loving and kind spirit. A private family interment will be held at a later date.
While her passing leaves a hole that will never be filled, we are also gifted with a lifetime of beautiful memories that will never be forgotten.
