ANTONINA POLIKSHA

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ANTONINA POLIKSHA March 14, 1907 November 13, 2006 With great sorrow we announce the passing of our mother and grandmother Antonina Poliksha on Monday, November 13, 2006 at the age of 99 at Health Sciences Centre on the fourth day of Palliative Care. She leaves to mourn and cherish her memory, her only daughter Halyna; grandson Bohdan and nieces and nephews. Antonina was predeceased by her parents Yosyp and Olha Hejda, three brothers, two sisters and her loving husband Serhij in 1970. She was born March 14, 1907 in Western Ukraine: Volyn region, near the city of Rivne. Antonina - Tosia as she was called, was the youngest of six children and fondly remembered being babied and spoiled especially by her older brothers. From the young age of 15 - 16 she was singing, dancing and acting on the stage; where she met and fell in love with her future husband Serhij - a dashing veteran of the Ukrainian army of the First World War. She was a natural born actress and lyric soprano, and together with her husband they spent many happy years in amateur and professional theatre and choirs in Ukraine and later in Canada. After the Second World War they came to Canada with their 18 year old daughter Halyna as refugees. Regardless of hard times and working to build a life, they were both active in Ukrainian organizations and their first love, the theatre, on many amateur stages. After the early passing of her husband at 69, Antonina remained active in the Church organizations and social life. She loved company and became known for her baking of elaborate tortes and korowayi (wedding bread) for Church teas, weddings and other social occasions for many friends and their children. She also turned her abundant energies to crafting Ukrainian costume dolls for private and museum collections; the bounteous garden and flowerbeds surrounding the little house she loved and refused to move away from. She always maintained that she wanted to die in her own house, in which she lived since 1952 - and she got her wish almost to the fullest. For the last year and a half, she had home care in her own house, enjoying summer afternoons on the veranda, watching people and cars go by, with her beloved dog Ko-ko on her lap. She never remarried. Prayers will be held on Friday, November 17 at 6:00 p.m. at St. Mary the Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, 820 Burrows Avenue. A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, November 18 at 10:00 a.m. also at the Cathedral with Rev. Dr. Jaroslaw Buciora officiating. Interment in Glen Eden Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be: Mychailo Tytarenko, Ostap Skrypnyk, Mykola and Ivan Iacobciuc, Victor Bondarczuk and Michael Rosoha. The family would like to thank Dr. B. Gorski and all home care workers who helped take care of mother and all our friends whose help we really appreciated. Flowers are graciously declined, if friends so desire, donations may be made to St. Mary's Cathedral, Children of Chernobyl or charity of your choice. May you always walk in sunshine And God's love around you flow, For all the happiness you gave us No one will ever know. Lord if there are roses in Heaven Pick a bunch with care, Place them in both her arms And tell her we still care. CROPO FUNERAL CHAPEL 586-8044

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 16, 2006