MARIA PIDHIRNYJ

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MARIA PIDHIRNYJ Peacefully in her sleep in the early hours of Sunday, February 20, 2011, Maria Pidhirnyj passed away at Seven Oaks Hospital at age 88. Maria was born in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, Ukraine on June 8, 1922. At age 18, she was taken to Germany for forced labour during the Second World War. There Maria met and, in 1945, married her husband, Petro, with whom she shared 45 happy years. The couple first immigrated to England, where their two children were born. Then, in the mid-1950s, the family immigrated to Winnipeg, where they put down their roots. Maria worked in the service industry and for the Government of Manitoba until her retirement. She and Petro made a comfortable home for their family and instilled in their children strong religious beliefs, a commitment to learning and an appreciation for their Ukrainian language, culture and heritage. Maria was a member of the Ukrainian Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral of Sts. Volodymyr and Olga, the Canadian Ukrainian Institute Prosvita, the Seniors' Club at Blessed Virgin Mary Church and, when her children were younger, the Women's Guild of the Ukrainian Youth Association (CYM). Maria was predeceased by her parents, Yakiv and Yavdokia, her sister Tetiana, her brother Zenon, her husband Petro in 1990 and her son Ihor in 2009. She leaves to mourn her daughter, Myroslava, her grandchildren, Roman, Tamara, Markian and Tetyana and extended family in Ukraine. Prayers will sung on Wednesday evening (tonight), February 23 at 7:00 p.m. at Korban Funeral Chapel, 907 Main Street. Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at Sts. Volodymyr and Olga Cathedral, 115 McGregor Street on Thursday, February 24 at 10:00 a.m., with Father V. Bashutskyy officiating. Interment will follow at All Saints Cemetery. Special thanks to Dr. T. Babick and the wonderful nurses and staff of St. Francis Ward, Holy Family Home, for their love and care. In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, donations may be made to the Canadian Ukrainian Institute Prosvita, 777 Pritchard Ave., Winnipeg, MB or to the Holy Family Home Expansion Project, 165 Aberdeen Ave., Winnipeg, MB. VICHNAYA PAMYAT KORBAN FUNERAL CHAPEL 956-2193

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 23, 2011