MARIA LUKASHENKO

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MARIA LUKASHENKO Peacefully surrounded by her family, Maria passed away on May 11, 2008 at St. Joseph's Residence at the age of 101. Maria was born in Ukraine in 1907. She met and married Wasyl in 1930. She survived many hardships: Stalin's confiscation of their land and home and the great famine in Ukraine (Holodomor). She was forcibly exiled to Siberia where she experienced persecution, hunger, and suffering. During the Second World War, Maria and Wasyl along with their young son Peter made their way to Germany. Maria immigrated to Canada in 1949, eventually settling in Swan River where she and Wasyl farmed for many years. Upon retirement Maria moved to Winnipeg. After the independence of Ukraine she was finally able to correspond and reunite with family and friends. Maria enjoyed Ukrainian embroidery, gardening and was a skilled baker. However, it was spending time with her family that she most cherished. Her family was blessed to celebrate her 101st birthday with her. Maria was predeceased by her sister Elizabeth, brother Matviy, and in 1987, by her husband Wasyl. She leaves to mourn her passing, her son Peter (Shirley), grandchildren, Elizabeth, Victoria (Wayne), James (Jennifer), William, and great-grandchildren, Leeza and Lukas, as well as relatives in Ukraine. The family wishes to extend its gratitude to Dr. T. Kroczak for his many years of care. Special thanks to Dr. B. Gorski and the staff at St. Joseph's Nursing Home for their compassionate care of Maria. Funeral Liturgy will be held at St. Mary The Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, 820 Burrows Avenue, on Wednesday, May 14, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. Interment to follow at Glen Eden Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Maria's memory to the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Mary the Protectress. VICHNAYA PAM'YAT 586-8044

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 13, 2008