OLENA DEMKO (1907 - 2007)

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OLENA DEMKO (1907 - 2007) It is with deep sorrow that the family announces the passing of Olena Demko (nee Melnyk), our dearest Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother. She returned to her Maker on Saturday, March 10, 2007, surrounded by her family and caring staff of Holy Family Nursing Home. Olena was predeceased by her parents, Anna (nee Demkiw) and Hryhorij Melnyk; four children, Emil, Wiroslaw, Vera-Marusia, and Ivan; siblings, Mykola, Sophia and Anna; grandson Wolodymyr; and husband Mykhaylo. Left to preserve the memory of a century-long life are her children, Stanislaw (Maria), Yaroslava (Miroslaw), Jozef (Julia), and Luba; grandchildren, Ollia-Maria, Joseph, Weronika (Yurij), Chrystyna (Yurij), Oleksander (Luba), Orest Mykhajlo, Nadia; and the brand new addition Olenka-Maria, who recently elevated Olena to the rank of Great-Grandmother. The Matriarch of the Demko clan was born on February 15, 1907, in Malawa, Peremyshl region, Western Ukraine, which was then under the rule of Austro-Hungarian Empire. She survived the horrors of the First World War and Second World War, Operation Akcja Wisla of 1947, which was executed by Stalin's communist regime. Despite the hardships she managed to keep alive the Ukrainian traditions and values. In 1972, Olena immigrated with her husband Mykhaylo to Canada. Despite their advanced age, both continued to participate actively in the life of their family and the life of the Ukrainian community in Winnipeg. Olena nurtured in her children the love of learning, loved nature (gardening, animals). Visitors to the Sts. Volodymyr and Olha Cathedral could often hear Olena's beautiful voice (she served as a deaconess' to all the priests). The Family wishes to express sincere gratitude to everyone who took care of Olena over the years, especially the staff of the Holy Family Nursing Home, as well as Drs. T. Babick and B.A. Gorski. The Pallbearers are: Ollia Maria Kitash, Joseph Demko Jr., Aleksander Demko, Slawomir Waplak, Peter Lohaza Jaroslaw Gracon and Jaroslaw Ochrymowicz. Prayers will be sung at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 13, 2007, at Sts. Volodymyr and Olha Cathedral, at 115 McGregor St. Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 14, 2007, also at the Cathedral, with Rt. Rev. Msgr. Mitrat Michael Buyachok, Rev. Bohdan Borowec, and Rev. Protodeacon Michael Woroby. Interment to follow in All Saints Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Olena's memory may be made to Pomich Ukraini Ukrainian Canadian Social Services, Manitoba Branch, 235 McGregor St., Winnipeg, MB, R2W 4W5. VICHNAYA PAMYAT Korban Funeral Chapel 956-2193

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 13, 2007