In Loving Memory

of Mary Melnychuk

April 15, 1960 – March 22, 2011

Mary was such a joyous and cheerful person. She is missed terribly, though many happy memories remind us of her exuberance and sunny disposition. We keep her spirit with us always.

Peacefully, surrounded by family at Lakeridge Health Oshawa, our beloved Mary took her last breath.  She surrendered her spirit to our Creator on March 22, 2011 and rests at St. Wolodymyr and St. Olha Cemetery near Oshawa, Ont.

Mary leaves behind to cherish her memory: her parents William and Anne (Hnatchuk) Melnychuk; siblings Stephania Melnychuk Taylor, Sandra Clark (Wayne), David Melnychuk, Ruth Lee (David); nieces Cortney Lee-Comeau and Zoe Clark; nephew and godson Nathan Lee; goddaughter Michelle Vissers; aunts Mary Bidochka (late Michael) and Stella Ross (James); godparents Nancy Sieber and the late John Syroid; many cousins and friends in Canada, the USA and Ukraine, and all who remember Mary’s warmth and affectionate good cheer.  Mary was predeceased by grandparents Nicholas and Olena (Onucky) Hnatchuk and Andrew and Katherine (Malko) Melnychuk. 

Born on Good Friday, April 15, 1960 at Sudbury Memorial Hospital, Mary moved with her family four years later to Oshawa, spending vacations at the homes of her grandparents in Sudbury and Espanola, Ont. visiting extended family and friends.  With relatives, she was also called Marusia (often shortened to “Mooshie” or “Moosh”). A bright student with good grades, Mary was well-liked by teachers and classmates. She made friends easily, whom she always greeted with affectionate shouts and hugs.

Graduating from Durham College’s Business Program and earning a much sought-after Canadian Institute of Securities Certificate, Mary worked at senoir levels in finance at Montreal Trust, TransCanada Pipelines (Toronto and Calgary) and Ontario Hydro.  An enthusiastic student throughout her life, Mary also took many other finance courses as well as completing most of a degree in the Business Management Program at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in Calgary.  Most recently, her Winners colleagues were a second family, and have held several benefits in her honour to raise funds for pancreatic cancer research.

Mary was active in the Oshawa, Toronto and Sudbury branches of the Ukrainian National Youth Federation (UNYF), holding branch executive positions.  At the national level, she also served as UNYF Vice President and for several years as Treasurer. In Oshawa, Mary also performed with the Salemka Ukrainian Dance Group and represented the Ukrainian National Federation as Miss Kyiv for Fiesta Week. Mary enjoyed foreign cultures, taking many adventures in far-off lands.

Whenever there were family events – birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, funerals – Mary was there, along with her bright demeanour, welcome smile and warm hug. She enjoyed a good sense of humour, smiling and joking throughout her life until the end.

May her memory be eternal and her joy prevail. 

Vichnaya Pam’yat!