KATHERINE SCHURKO

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KATHERINE SCHURKO November 29, 1905 - December 1, 2007 It is with heavy hearts and great sadness that the family announces the passing of our most precious and beloved Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother, aged 102, on December 1 at Holy Family Nursing Home, with her sons Walter and John at her side. She went to her heavenly reward peacefully with God's loving care. Katherine was born on November 29, 1905, in Oblast Lviv, Rayon, Radziechow, Selo Mukanie, in Western Ukraine. She came to Canada in May 1930. On November 21, 1931, she married her beloved husband Michael who predeceased her on March 27, 1978. She was also predeceased by her parents, Jacob and Maria Jednzejowski, four sisters and five brothers, John (Ivan), Anne (Hania), Paranka, Eva, Joseph (Yuzik), Frank (Franik), Teklia, Michael, Walter (Vladik). Her whole life was a wonderful example of Christian living and instilled the meaning of faith and love of God in her children. She was a very generous person of deep spiritual convictions, a lady of deep faith, who loved her Ukrainian Catholic Church and took great pride in her Ukrainian Catholic heritage and followed its beautiful traditions. She was a lifelong member of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, that she attended faithfully until failing health prevented her from doing so. Her passing is deeply grieved by her three sons and daughters-in-law, Walter (Michelle), John (Melvyne), and Bill. She will also be forever remembered by her grandchildren, Barbara Camara (Manuel), Angela Zaparniuk (Len), Leanne Janzen (Richard), Catherine Schinkel (Jonathan), all of Winnipeg, Dr. Robert Schurko, Windsor, ON, Dr. Andrew Schurko, Iowa City, Iowa, and great-grandchildren, Jenna and Laura Janzen who called her Granny. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews in Winnipeg, U.S.A. and Ukraine. Ma was a very loving and caring person who placed everyone's needs before her own. She was compassionate, sensitive and gave her love, her heart and her time unselfishly to her family. She was a loving wife, a wonderful, kind, gentle, caring mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who lived her life for the family. Each of them was special to her in their own way and she was very proud of their achievements. The memory of many happy gatherings will keep her alive in her family's minds forever. She will be sadly missed but never forgotten. We will miss her humility and her selfless devotion to us and will always remember her with true love and appreciation. Ma and Baba, we will always remember the aromas coming out of your kitchen. Ma's greatest talent was her cooking and baking. One of her greatest joys was when her family came over for some of her delicious cooking. We always knew there was a great meal awaiting us. We looked forward to her fried chicken, borscht, perogies, special homemade soups, spare ribs that melted in your mouth, different breads and buns, chicken soup, holopchies, apple and lemon pies, honey cake, perishke, paska and the most wonderful roast beef dinners. Unfortunately most of her unwritten recipes ended with Ma. Our fondest memories were her traditional Easter and Christmas Dinners when the family would all get together and enjoy her most delicious cooking and baking in her small living room. Ma took pride in being able to cook for such a large gathering without asking for any help. Ma was an avid gardener, who enjoyed growing her own vegetables and a variety of flowers. Her geraniums and tomatoes were a joy to behold. She also enjoyed sewing, embroidering and cross-stitching and made beautiful pysanki every Easter which were blessed at the church and shared with her family. Due to failing health, Ma became a resident of Holy Family Nursing Home in March 1994. Even though her eyesight was failing badly, she was kept mentally alert and informed of current news and family events to the end by daily visits by her sons, Walter and John, also regular visits from other members of the family. The family would like to express their sincere appreciation for the care and compassion provided to Ma by the nurses and staff of St. Joseph's Ward 4A, during her residence at Holy Family Nursing Home, for nearly 14 years. Divine Liturgy will be celebrated on Friday, December 7 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, 737 Bannerman Avenue, with Father Isidore Dziadyk, OSBM, officiating. Interment to follow at Holy Family Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Katherine's memory may be made to St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church Improvement Fund, 737 Bannerman Ave., Winnipeg, MB R2X 1J9. Pallbearers will be her two grandsons, Dr. Robert Schurko and Dr. Andrew Schurko, and Richard Janzen, Len Zaparniuk, Jonathan Schinkel, Karl Jurkowski. Ma, Baba, and Granny, you have left us with many wonderful memories of our times together. To be together in the same old way would be our dearest wish today. REST IN PEACE Ma. We will always remember and love you. To love a Mother and then to part, Is the greatest trial to the human heart, Years of striving, little of play, Loving, giving, the whole of the way, A cherished smile, a heart of gold, To the dearest Mother the world could hold. Happy memories, fond and true, From us who thought the world of you. Beautiful memories are treasured ever, Of happy days when we were together. With aching hearts we whisper low, God Bless you, Mother, we'll miss you so. Father in Heaven, hear our prayer, Guard our Mother with tender care. Be a good Shepherd, don't leave her alone, Love her as we love her When she was here at home. Forever in our memories VICHNAYA PAMYAT KORBAN FUNERAL CHAPEL 956-2193

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 05, 2007