LIDIA KOTOWYCZ (SHPYTKOVSKY)

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LIDIA KOTOWYCZ (SHPYTKOVSKY) With profound sadness, the family announces that Lidia, our beloved Mama, Babi and Pra-Babi, passed away peacefully with her family by her side at St. Boniface Hospital on June 23, 2006. Lidia was born in Lviv, Halychyna (Western Ukraine), the daughter of Rev. Stanislav Shpytkovsky and Antonina Shpytkovsky (Lahola). She married her husband Alexander in 1939 in Lviv. They came to Canada after the war and settled in Winnipeg. She was blessed with five children who are very grateful that their parents came to Canada. She dedicated her whole life to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of whom she was extremely proud. Her biggest joy was her family. She encouraged them all and was very proud of their accomplishments. Lidia was predeceased by her husband Alexander in 1981. She was predeceased by three of her brothers, Oleh, Sviatoslaw, Rev. Mitrat Ihor Shpytkovsky, her sister Halyna Tycha and son-in-law Nick Banera. Her brother Wsevolod Shpytkovsky in Calgary survives her. She will always be missed and remain in the hearts of her five children: Dr. George Kotovych (Halyna), Edmonton; Martha Baluta (John), Winnipeg; Ihor Kotowyca (Christine), Toronto; Aka Mary Papish (Nestor), Calgary; and Anna Banera, Winnipeg. She was loved by her sixteen grandchildren: Oksana Manyluk (Blaine), Edmonton; Marichka and Roman Kotovych, Edmonton; and Darusia Kotovych, Vancouver; Dr. Jerry Baluta (Olga Kandia), Winnipeg; Alexander Baluta (Ana Gomez), Toronto; Bohdan Baluta (Tara), Toronto; John Baluta (Robyn Wozney), Toronto; Dr. Mark Kotowycz, Toronto; Dr. Natalie Naassan (Dr. Anthony), Toronto; Tanya Kotowycz, Toronto; Raisa David (Dr. Alexis), Courtney; Volodymyr Papish, Toronto; Dr. Andriyka Papish (Dr. Chris Yost), Regina; Tim Banera (Sheri-Lynn), Winnipeg and Matthew Banera (Karen), Winnipeg. She leaves behind 12 great-grandchildren: Stefan, Andrew, Raisa, Mykola, Zachary, Maxime, Mercedes, Natasha, Nicholas, Bronwyn, Weilee and Evan. She also leaves behind extended family in Canada and Ukraine. Lidia was an accomplished concert pianist who graduated from the Mykola Lysenko Institute of Music in Lviv where she studied with Professor Jaroslav Barwinsky. She performed as a concert pianist, accompanist, music teacher and played in musical groups. We will always remember her wonderful baking, especially her tortes and rogalky. Even though she was forever 39 years old, she had a very full life. She was able to participate in the lives of her grand and great-grandchildren to whom she passed on her strong religious beliefs and Ukrainian culture. We would like to thank the doctors and nurses that looked after our Mama, especially home care nurse Wendy Sersun. Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Jerry, Alex, Bohdan and John Baluta; Tim and Matthew Banera. Panachyda will be sung on Monday, June 26, 2006 (tonight) at 7:30 p.m. and Divine Liturgy will be on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 at 10:00 a.m., both at Sts. Vladimir and Olga Cathedral, 114 McGregor St., Winnipeg, MB. Interment to follow at All Saints Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, donations may be made to the Bishop Velychkovsky Martyr's Shrine , 250 Jefferson Ave., Winnipeg, MB, R2V 0M6. VICHNAYA PAMYAT KORBAN FUNERAL CHAPEL 956-2193

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 26, 2006