STEPHAN KELEBAY

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STEPHAN KELEBAY With sadness the family announces that on January 25, 2008, Stephan's life on earth came to a peaceful close at Riverview Health Centre. Stephan was predeceased by his parents, two brothers, Constantin and Volodymyr, and two sisters, Olha and Leontina. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Lena; daughters, Martha (Mardi) Baydak, Patricia Clayton; son, Nestor Kelebay; and his grandsons, Blair and Kevin Clayton His Hlopchi . He is also survived by his son-in-law, Larry Baydak, and Larry's daughters, Cynthia Pauls and Kimberly Baydak; brother, Yaroslav Kelebay; niece, Leonida Luhowy; several nieces and nephews; and family friend, Helen Zielinski. Born in Rozhnitiv, Western Ukraine, in 1917, Stephan immigrated to Canada following the Second World War. Trained as a barber in Ukraine, he soon purchased a barber chair and set up shop briefly in Pine Falls, and then in Selkirk, Manitoba. He cut hair at Steve's Barber Shop for over 50 years before finally retiring in 2000 at the age of 83. Stephan loved to travel and in his later years accompanied Mardi and Larry on road trips to the Rockies, Florida, California, Memphis, and many trips to Louisville. In 1988 he traveled to Rome with the Millennium Choir. Following a week spent in Rome with the choir, he took the opportunity to independently tour various other countries in Europe for a further two weeks. Most recently, he and Mardi visited Ukraine in 2002. Because he so loved to travel, Stephan took great satisfaction in knowing that he had funded high school trips to Europe for each of his grandsons, Blair and Kevin. Stephan's Ukrainian heritage was vitally important to him and he rejoiced when Ukraine attained independence in 1991. Then, thirteen years later, he followed the Orange Revolution with keen interest, attending various rallies, meetings, and a candlelight vigil held at the Shevchenko monument. The day that Yushchenko was elected President of Ukraine, he was more animated than he had been in several years. To honour his Ukrainian heritage, some soil from his beloved Ukraine will be scattered at the gravesite by Monsignor Buyachok and by Stephan's immediate family. The family would like to thank Dr. Robillard, Cyndy Shaw and the Care Team of CD3 at Riverview Health Centre for the excellent care that our husband and father received. Prayers will be sung 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 30, at Korban Funeral Chapel, 907 Main Street. Divine Liturgy will be celebrated 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 31 at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Sts. Vladimir and Olga with Rt. Rev. Msgr. Mitrat M. Buyachok officiating. Interment to follow at All Saints Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Nestor Kelebay, Blair Clayton, Kevin Clayton, Larry Baydak, Willy Plaetinck, and Mikal Plaetinck, and Honorary pallbearer, Peter Luhowy. In lieu of flowers, if friends so wish, a donation to the renovation fund for the Ukrainian Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral of Sts. Vladimir and Olga would be appreciated, (206 114 McGregor Street, Winnipeg, MB R2W 5J7. VICHNAYA PAMYAT

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 26, 2008