UWO’s Mother's Day Evening

By Genya Hunchak

On May 3, 2006, the Ukrainian Women’s Organization of Canada, Toronto Branch, celebrated Mother’s Day in grand fashion at the Ukrainian National Federation Community Centre at 145 Evans Ave. It was an evening of music, song, poetry, music, gourmet food and much laughter.

President Genya Hunchak opened the evening with quotes on the subject of Mother’s Day, and then turned the program over to the Mistress of Ceremonies, Hanya Cirka. 

Hanya welcomed and introduced the Boyan Choir who performed melodiously under the masterful direction of choir mistress Natalka Furchylo.  Recitations of Mother’s Day verses by children from Toronto Ukrainian schools were an added bonus.  The program was topped off with solos by three very talented young soloists. The audience showed their appreciation for the wonderful program prepared by Mrs. Furchylo with ringing applause.

Dinner was catered by Natalie’s Kitchen, and everyone had only praise for the meal.

The choir and audience joined together to sing “Mnohaya Lita” for Mrs. Rosalia Nestorowsky, who had recently celebrated her 98th birthday.   Mrs. Nestorowsky was born on Easter Sunday, on the 26 of April, 1908 in Sniatyn, Ivano-Frankivsk oblast.

She was the eldest of six children born to Dmytro and Olena Onyschuk. During the First World War, when her father, a shoe-maker, was conscripted into the army and her mother was forced to go off to work, the six-year-old Rosalia was left to take care of her younger siblings.

In 1918, her father returned home an invalid and could no longer continue in his trade. To earn a living, he and Rosalia’s mother became teachers.

The young Rosalia survived a serious bout of typhus and later, having a lovely soprano voice, she auditioned to sing in the local Sniatyn choir and then performed in concerts and plays.

She eventually immigrated to Canada where she married Volodymyr Nestorowsky. They both became prominent members of the Ukrainian-Canadian community. She joined the Ukrainian Women’s Organization and today remains a member, having devoted 75 years of uninterrupted service to the organization.

Continuing the program, Hanya Cirka then introduced Halyna Kovalevych who recited poems praising mothers. 

Next, Olya Leschuk introduced guest performer Canadian master actor Diane Fabian. She is a former UNYF member who danced with the Kalyna Dancers, sang with the Boyan Choir and played in the Kyiv pavilion’s orchestra during the annual Caravan Festival.  Despite suffering from a virus, Diane presented a delightful, fun-filled program that produced much loud and mirthful laughter.

The evening ended with Anna Adamowich drawing the door and raffle prizes.