NELLIE (GALAY) TUZYK -

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NELLIE (GALAY) TUZYK 1920 - 2008 Early January 6, on the day of Epiphany, our beloved aunt, sister-in-law, and cousin, Nellie Tuzyk, peacefully passed away at St. Paul's Home in Dauphin. Left to cherish her memory, is her sister-in-law, Helen Galay and family, her stepsisters, her stepbrother and their families, her cousins, nieces and nephews. Nellie was predeceased by her parents, two sisters in infancy, her stepmother Mary (Ukrainec) Galay, her siblings and their spouses: Ann (Nick) Mischuk, Pauline (Mersil) Krevesky, and Alex; nephew Boris Krevesky, niece Sylvia Wright, and niece Donna Chimilar. Nellie was the youngest daughter of Tony and Mary (Polichuk). She was born in Winnipeg on September 14, 1920. Her mother's frail health prompted a move to Pine River where her parents purchased a farm and where Nellie was raised and educated. Many happy years were spent in Pine River and many lasting friendships were formed. Energetic and fun-loving, Nell became an avid sportswoman, playing baseball on the local ladies' team and receiving the Neil Trophy as the skip of the winning team in the Dauphin Ladies' Bonspiel. In later years, she enjoyed bowling in the church league in Winnipeg. Her love of music (who could forget her rendition of The Railroad Song ?) and Ukrainian culture made her a church caroller at Christmas as well as a regular volunteer for the Dauphin Ukrainian Festival. During the war, Nell, at age 20, became a migrant worker, picking potatoes in Ontario, then in the Dakotas. Thereafter she worked in the Transcona Cordite Plant making munitions. When the war ended, she worked in the Catalogue Department at Eaton's before beginning a successful egg grading business back in Pine River and becoming a founding member of the Pine River Credit Union. In the late 1950s she came to Winnipeg to work for Canada Packers. Shortly after, she met Michael Tuzyk and they were married April 19, 1961. Their early married life was briefly spent in Winnipeg, then in Upsala and Hudson, Ontario where Mike, a heavy machine operator, worked on the roads. Later they moved back to Manitoba and Mike farmed alongside his brother on the family farm outside Ashville. Their Ponderosa was always open to welcome guests. Their barbeques, evenings of card playing, and joke-telling are fond memories of times spent with them. Nell remained on the farm for four years after Mike's death in 1978 before moving into an apartment in Dauphin. Besides visits to family in Winnipeg, Saskatchewan, and BC, she began to travel, taking trips to Arizona, California, Mexico, and Las Vegas, as well as countless casino bus tours. The highlight of her travels though, was our 1989 trip to the Ukraine. Plagued by arthritis, Nellie moved to Happy Haven Seniors' Residence in May, 2001 and with the wonderful supports of Lily Fleury and the Home Care ladies there, she was able to live independently for the next four years. In the spring of 2005, she was admitted to St. Paul's Home. Our family would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to Richard Laronde, Tannis Shearer, Val Rankin, and the Home Care ladies for their efforts on Nell's behalf as well as Diane Halliday, Michelle Quenelle and the amazing staff at St. Paul's for the loving care and compassion shown our Nellie. You are a Godsend to your patients and to their families who entrust them to your care. As Nell would say, Thanks a million! With respect to Nellie's wishes, a funeral service with Right Reverend Archimandrite Tykhon will be held at Riverside Evergreen Chapel in Dauphin, on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. with interment and reception to follow. Active pallbearers are: John Jackson, Michael Krevesky, Warren Krevesky, Scott Roberts, Gordon Spring, and Richard Wright. Crossbearer: Taras Galay. As an expression of sympathy, if friends so wish, donations may be made in Nellie's memory to either: The Dome Restoration Fund for St. George's Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 804 Main Street , Dauphin, MB or to St. Paul's Home, 703 Jackson Street, Dauphin, MB R7N 2N2. Cicso , Thank-you for being a part of my life and for the wonderful times we've shared. Love Always, Orysia ( Pancho ). Sneath-Strilchuk Funeral Services has care of the arrangements. Sneath-Strilchuk Funeral Services Dauphin, Manitoba (204) 638-4110

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 11, 2008