ANASTASIA MINENKO (KRYWONOS)

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ANASTASIA MINENKO (nee KRYWONOS) Wife, mother, grandmother, educator - Anastasia Minenko was born in Murafa in the province of Kharkiv, Ukraine on November 23, 1930. She was called in her sleep in the morning on December 21, 2007. Anastasia is survived by her sons, Mark (Roma), Victor (Connie), Michael (Anne), Paul (Barb); her grandchildren, Andrew, Sofia, Daniel, Sonja, Matthew, Nicholas; her brothers, Oleksij (Katherine) and Rev. Mykola (Rita); sister-in-law Anna (Mykola) and various nieces and nephews throughout the U.S. The eldest of four children, her family's path from Ukraine to North America was a torturous one. In 1943 her family was taken to Munich, Germany as forced labourers. In Munich they lived in a concentration camp in Laim and later in a camp sponsored by the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration. Anastasia's family was sponsored to emigrate to the United States by a family in Texas and on December 13, 1949 boarded the USAT General Blatchford. They were welcomed by the Statue of Liberty in New York City on December 23, 1949. Anastasia also had a special place in her heart for Chicago as the Krywonos family spent their first American Christmas Eve at the Chicago train station. In 1950 Anastasia left Texas for New York City where she met a young theology student, Tymofiy Minenko and they were married in 1952. With three young sons, Mark, Victor, and Michael, the Minenko family moved to Toronto, where a fourth son, Paul was born. In 1967, the family moved to a parish in Grimsby and then to Winnipeg in 1975, where V. Rev. Minenko was appointed editor of the church newspaper. Although Anastasia's education was interrupted several times as a result of displacement and war, she finished her education in New York City, first completing a key punching and secretarial program and then graduating with a Diploma of Theology at St. Vladimir Seminary in 1956. Anastasia assisted her husband, the late Very Rev. Tymofiy Minenko, in building, developing and nurturing their life's work the preservation of their heritage and religion amongst young and old in parishes in New York City, Toronto (Long Branch), Grimsby, Ontario and Transcona, Manitoba and while her husband served as the editor of the church newspaper and then Dean of Theology. She also worked for Robinson Little and Co. in Winnipeg and finished her career assisting students as executive secretary and co-editor of the newsletter at St. Andrew's College at the University of Manitoba. This work was accomplished through her active participation and membership in the Ukrainian Women's Association of Canada in Long Branch, Toronto, Grimsby and in Winnipeg. She also volunteered as an advisor for the Ukrainian Canadian Youth Association and taught in the Ukrainian Language schools (Ridna Shkola) and Sunday schools in Long Branch, Grimsby and Winnipeg. Amongst the many activities she organized for young people to participate were concerts to commemorate various important events in the life of the Ukrainian community in Canada. The annual St. Nicholas day concerts were a particular highlight every year and she wrote and adapted a number of plays for children. Her work, in this regard, will not be forgotten as her plays have been recently adapted and performed at St. John's Cathedral in Edmonton, most recently on December 16, 2007. In recognition for her community work, Anastasia was awarded the Metropolitan's Charter (1991) and a Charter of Honour by the UWAC (1992). Her love for education is evident in that all her sons attended university, collecting undergraduate and post graduate degrees in Education, Arts, Law and Business. Her love of music, song and the arts is evident amongst her grandchildren Andrew (trumpet, guitar), Sofia (ballet), Daniel (French horn), Sonja (piano), Matthew (violin) and Nicholas (most recent addition of drums). Her love of her heritage and religion is evident in her children's and grandchildren's participation in a variety of organizations and activities in the communities in which they live. Anastasia's family would like to thank all the various caregivers who assisted her in surviving several bouts of cancer and other illnesses since the late 1980's. In particular, we thank Dr. Gorski for his compassionate care over the many years. Prayers will be held on Friday, December 28, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at the Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral, 1175 Main Street. Funeral Liturgy will be held on Saturday, December 29 at 9:30 a.m. also at the Cathedral. Interment at Glen Eden Memorial Gardens. VICHNAYA PAMYAT CROPO FUNERAL CHAPEL 586-8044

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 27, 2007