FEDIR HORBAN

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FEDIR HORBAN On Wednesday, March 27, 2002, at the age of 93 years and three months, Fedir Horban died peacefully at Seven Oaks Hospital. Left to cherish his memory is Maria, his wife of 41 years, in Winnipeg; two nephews and one god-daughter in Ukraine. Fedir was predeceased by his father Semen and his mother Uliana. He was the last of his siblings, predeceased also by his six older brothers and one sister. Fedir was born in Poltava region of eastern Ukraine. After the great famine in Ukraine, he left his home and travelled throughout the country in search of work, eventually apprenticing as a tailor. During the German occupation of Ukraine he was taken to a forced labour camp working in a sewing factory in Germany. In 1948 he immigrated to England where he worked on the farms and later in a factory sewing military uniforms. In 1960 Maria joined Fedir in Derby, England, where they were married. In 1967 they both arrived in Canada where their first employment opportunity was working at Expo in Montreal, PQ. In 1968 they settled in Winnipeg where they became members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Mary the Protectress and also became the custodians of the Cathedral until they retired in 1990. In addition to being a member of the Cathedral, Fedir was also a member of the St. Andrews Benevolent Society, St. Mary the Protectress Brotherhood as well as the church choir. He was also a very generous donor to many Ukrainian organizations. Although Fedir officially retired in 1990, he continued to do work in the church as an Elder of the parish. He was known to always be the last person to leave the church, ensuring that all lights were shut off, candles blown out and doors locked. He will also be remembered for reciting poetry, by memory, at all the concerts held at the parish including the St. Nicholas and Mothers Day concerts. He never missed the opportunity to participate in these concerts, his last performance being this past January. Although he never had any children of his own, he was thought of as a grandfather figure by many of his fellow parishioners. He will be missed dearly. Prayers will be sung at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 31 at the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Mary the Protectress, 820 Burrows Ave. at Sinclair. Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 1, also at the Cathedral with Rev. Jaroslav Buciora officiating and assisted by local clergy. Interment to follow at Glen Eden Cemetery in the Orthodox section. Pallbearers will be Vasyl Balan, Rudy Babynchuk, Steve Dowbeta, Russell Prasol, Mihai Rosoha and George Zywylo. All Cathedral members will serve as honorary pallbearers by their presence at the services. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Fedirs memory to the St. Mary the Protectress Cathedral Special Projects fund. VICHNAYA PAMYAT KORBAN FUNERAL CHAPEL 956-2193

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 30, 2002