IRENE GAYOWSKY

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IRENE GAYOWSKY It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, Irene Gayowsky, peacefully in Ottawa in her 102nd year. Dear mother of daughter Cornelia Kuchmy of Surrey, England and of son Nestor Gayowsky and wife Tela of Qualicum Beach, BC; grandmother of Tia and Irita Kuchmy and great-grandmother of Emily and Jonathan Hall of England; grandmother to Nestor's stepson Chris Butryn of Toronto. Dear great-aunt of Joanne Dyson and husband Richard (step-daughter Katie) of Ottawa, Mervin Lestition and wife Susan of Burlington, ON and Brian Lestition and wife Marlene of Beausejour, MB. Arriving in Canada from Ukraine at the age of six in 1910 with her parents, Irene began teaching school in the rural areas of the Lake District of Manitoba when she was 17 years old. Her first classroom had about 80 students from grades 1 to 9. Both students and teachers walked to school in all seasons, never a distance less than a mile and a half. Pausing from her profession to raise her children she returned to teaching in Winnipeg schools in 1949 and retired in 1969. She will be remembered for her lively intelligence, great spirit, optimism, determination, dedication to her family and to Canada, and to the teaching profession. Throughout her life, Irene was active in community and Canadian-Ukrainian activities. She was a supporter of the arts, very energetic in community canvassing. With her husband she also taught Ukrainian in evening schools. Irene Gayowsky was President of the Ukrainian Canadian Committee (KYK) Winnipeg Branch for two years, and was also active in the Institute Prosvita and the Ukrainian National Home Association of Winnipeg. In 1974, she was President of the Central Senior's Centre in Winnipeg at the time of the Centre's 100th anniversary. A funeral service will be held on Friday, March 30 at 10:00 a.m. at Saint John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Shrine, 952 Green Valley Crescent, Ottawa. Interment at a later date at All Saints Cemetery in Winnipeg, MB, where she will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband who predeceased her in 1974. Arrangements in care of the Kelly Funeral Home, 1255 Walkley Road, Ottawa, ON. Condolences at www.kellyfh.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 31, 2007