JOHN IWAN MARTYNIW

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

JOHN IWAN MARTYNIW July 3, 1925 - September 18, 2005 It is with great sorrow we announce the sudden passing of John Iwan Martyniw after a brief illness on Sunday, September 18, 2005 at Selkirk District General Hospital. Dad was predeceased by his parents, Theodor and Katerina Martyniw; his brother Wasyl; and his sister Anastasia; daughter Trudy Costa; grandchildren, Christopher and Alexandra Costa. He will be sadly missed by his wife Pauline; son Ashley (Barbara), Aaron (Jen), Laetitia, and Emrys; daughter Cheryl, Christa (Quinn), Charise, Chandal, Evan; son Thomas (Camille), J.T. (Katie), Mallory, Aimee, Jordan; son-in-law Jose Costa, Isabella; daughter Tracy (Thomas) and family friend Anita Clayton. Dad will be also missed by life long friends Walter and Amelia Denkewych, cousin Dmytro Melnyk (Boston), John and Ann Ilkiw (New York), cousin Sofia Krechoweckyj (Buenos Aires), niece Darchia and Iwan Tkachyk (Ukraine), and many other relatives and friends in Canada, England, Ukraine and Argentina. Dad was born July 3, 1925 in Czerniw, Ivano-Frankivska, Ukraine to Theodor and Katerina (nee Melnyk) Martyniw. He was raised on a small farm with one brother Wasyl and sister Anastasia. After the turbulent war years he came to England in 1947 and took nursing training in Bury St. Edmunds General Hospital and later at Markfield Sanatorium near Leicester and then transferred to work at the Towers Hospital for Mental Diseases. He met and married Pauline Audrey Hubbard Leaf on March 28, 1953 who was also nursing at that time in Leicester, England and had two children, Ashley (1954) and Cheryl (1956). They immigrated to Canada in July of 1957 in hopes of greater opportunity and a better life. He began work at Selkirk Mental Health Centre in Selkirk, MB. In 1958, he moved to Winnipeg and was employed as an Instructor in Mental Health Nursing at Misericordia General Hospital. In 1962, they moved to Saskatoon, SK so that he could complete a Diploma Programme in Nursing Teaching. In 1963, they moved back and settled in Selkirk, MB and he taught RPNs and RNs in the Selkirk School of Psychiatric Nursing. During his professional practice he served from the early 1960s on various provincial and national nursing committees in support of Psychiatric Nursing. In 1966, his second daughter Trudy was born and he was elected as the 2nd President of the Registered Psychiatric Nurses Association of Manitoba and served until 1971. In 1968, Mum and Dad especially chose their second son Thomas to be part of the family. He was a Founding Board member of Tudor House Ltd, a Personal Care Home established in 1971. Also in 1971 his third daughter Tracy was born and he was elected chair of the Psychiatric Nurses Education Committee of Canada and served until 1980. In 1981 he was awarded Life Membership in the Registered Psychiatric Nurses Association of Manitoba in honour of his valuable contribution to the profession of Psychiatric Nursing. He was also a long standing member of the Kiwanis Club of Selkirk. He served on the Selkirk District General Hospital Board of Trustees from January 1989-91. Besides all of his accomplishments professionally the most important part of his life was his family, his wife, his children and grandchildren. He always wanted to keep us all warm, safe and protected. One of his greatest pleasures was hosting family gatherings or barbecues at his home in Petersfield. He loved to visit and spend time with his children and grandchildren. Because of his love for his Ukrainian heritage he encouraged and supported his grandchildren in Ukrainian Bilingual programs and Ukrainian dancing. The house he built in Petersfield by himself, and kept on adding to, just as his own father had done, was a source of great pride to him. He was very happy living in the country with his gardening and building projects. He loved to build and putter, he would bring his tools and help repair or give advice and suggestions on how to make improvements at his children's homes. Dad never wanted anything for himself; he said he had everything with his family around him. He was always available to lend a helping hand in any way he could. He would often bring little gifts for the children or his home-cooked food to share. His girls Cheryl, Trudy and Tracy were always special favourites of his and in times of troubles or hardship he was always there for them. Dad never forgot his family in the Ukraine and his 1992 trip back home to see his family was a highlight of his retirement. Dad was a husband, a father, a grandfather, an uncle, a teacher, a business partner, a concerned community member and a friend to many people. His kindness, contributions and support will always be remembered. Dad will always be loved and cherished by his family and friends; he gave generously of his time and his love and will always be a loving example for his family. These words do not adequately express the love he felt for his family and how much he meant to us, but we will keep him in our hearts and share our memories with our children and grandchildren. Dad we will miss your cheerful face, ginger hair, twinkling bright blue eyes and your smile, we still have work for you to do. We all love you Dad! Prayers will be held at Gilbart Funeral Home, 309 Eveline St., Selkirk, MB on Wednesday, September 21 at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Liturgy will be held at the Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Church on the corner of Sophia Street and Pacific Avenue, Selkirk, MB on Thursday, September 22 at 10:30 a.m. with Rev. Fr. Peter W. Chorney officiating. Pallbearers will be Ashley Martyniw (son), Thomas Martyniw (son), Jose Costa (son-in-law), Tom Flores (friend), Aaron Martyniw (grandson), Emrys Martyniw (grandson). Honorary Pallbearers Quinn Moffatt (friend), Walter Denkewych (friend). Interment will follow at the Holy Eucharist Cemetery in Selkirk. Following the burial the tea will be held at the Holy Eucharist Hall beside the church. His family would like to express their appreciation to Dr. C. Nisbet, Dr. B.A. Ryckman and for the kindness and care given by the nurses at Selkirk District General Hospital. As expressions of sympathy, if friends so wish, donations may be made in Dad's memory to the charity of your choice. VICHNAYA PAMYAT Arrangements Entrusted To: GILBART FUNERAL HOME 1 (204) 482-3271

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 21, 2005