SISTER PORPHYRIA ANASTASIA KORPAN

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SISTER PORPHYRIA ANASTASIA KORPAN, SSMI 1918 - 2011 Sister Porphyria, a member of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate, peacefully passed into Eternity at Bethany Home, Winnipeg, MB on Sunday, February 27, 2011. Anastasia (Sister Porphyria) was born on February 12, 1918, in Hadashville, MB and baptised in the Ascension of our Lord Church. She was the tenth of 13 children born to Alexander and Eudoxia (Roshko), who had emigrated to this farming district from Western Ukraine in the early 1900s. Around 1925, the Korpan family moved to Myrnam, AB, where her father had purchased land. Sister Porphyria received her elementary and high school education in Myrnam. She also became acquainted with the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate in Mundare, who taught Catechism in the parish. Having experienced the call of Christ to religious life, Anastasia entered the Novitiate of the Sisters Servants in Mundare on November, 20, 1936. Sister Porphyria made first profession of vows on May 24, 1939, and final profession on August 15, 1945. In her 75 years as a Sister Servant, Sister Porphyria generously served her religious community, church and people. In her younger years she was a creative and dedicated educator. Due to failing health she had to discontinue this mission and generously took up a new challenge, that of parish work for over 18 years at St. George's Church in Prince Albert, SK. She attended Teachers' College in Saskatoon, SK and was an accredited teacher in Saskatchewan, Alberta, Quebec and Manitoba. She served mainly as a classroom teacher in the primary and elementary grades for 36 years, from 1945 to 1981. She taught in the following elementary Catholic Schools: Alberta - St. Martin's and St. Mary's, Vegreville; Saskatchewan - St. Mary's Parochial School, Yorkton; St. Anne's, Ituna; St. John's School, Regina; St. Anne's School, Prince Albert; Manitoba - St. Nicholas / Immaculate Heart of Mary School, Winnipeg; Quebec - St. Anselm, Our Lady of Mount Royal, St. Finbarr. To make her teaching apostolate more fruitful, she devoted many summers to study: Arts and Crafts, Speech and Music, Audio Visual, Ukrainian, French, Primary Methods. She was always on the lookout for ways to make her classes more interesting. The items her classes presented at school concerts were well prepared, innovative and delightful. She was able to challenge her students to discover and develop their talents. Throughout her teaching years after school hours or on weekends she also taught children religion and conducted Ukrainian School in various urban parishes. She was involved in the life of the parishes, where she was missioned, serving as moderator for Children of Mary and assisting in other ways. When not attending summer school at a University, she devoted her summer months to teaching Catechism in rural parishes and preparing children for First Holy Communion. From 1982 to 2000 Sister Porphyria entered a new phase of service, that of parish work at St. George's Church. She took up this new mission with her usual enthusiasm and creativity. She offered her assistance to: the pastor and the parishioners; children, youth, parents, seniors; and to those who were forgotten and lonely. She offered instruction, animated the Divine Liturgies, initiated cultural activities, enlivened the celebrations of Christmas and Easter with her fresh approach. The focal point in this mission for her was that Christ and Mary Immaculate be better known, loved and served. She encouraged the parishioners to cultivate a love and trust in the powerful intercession of the Saints. And greatest of all, she did not look for grandiose results. She did her best and left the outcome in the Lord's hands. When Sister Porphyria left this mission in Prince Albert the following words of gratitude were expressed by the parishioners: You were much of the heartbeat of our Christian Community in St. George's. You leave your living presence in all our hearts. You truly were the icon of the Blessed Mother: you taught us how to pray, how to sing, how to respect our Ukrainian tradition, and we will never forget your example of Service and Dedication to our Church. The tears that you see in our eyes are our tears of great joy and love that we have for you. Our young people thank you for preparing them to receive Jesus into their hearts. Sister Porphyria loved her community of Sisters Servants and devotedly carried out all responsibilities entrusted to her. She was local Superior in the following homes: Ituna, SK; Winnipeg, MB; Vegreville, AB; Regina, SK; Prince Albert, SK. She participated in Provincial Chapter and the SSMI Catechetical Workshops. Hers was a welcoming heart. By the year 2000, Sister Porphyria was entering the next phase of her life. It was time to heal, to serve her Lord and her sisters and brothers with prayers of intercession. Her faithfulness to the Lord and her loving devotion to the Mother of God and Blessed Josaphata sustained her in times of difficulty and pain. As health permitted, she continued to serve her local community of Sisters Servants at Bethany Home in Winnipeg as Home Chronicler and did whatever domestic duties her strength allowed. She ministered to adults in English language instruction and faithfully mailed out religious periodicals to many. In advanced infirmity she was a witness to all who lived with her and to the guests of heroic coping with infirmity, striving not to be a burden, but rather, offering her help to those in more need and pain than she experienced. She will be cherished for her sense of humour, her devotion to the needy, her availability. Sister Porphyria loved to travel and enjoyed nature and the beauties of art, architecture and music. She treasured her opportunity to make a Holy Year Pilgrimage in 1975 to the Holy Land, Rome, Lourdes and Fatima. For her, this was a great grace and blessing. She cherished her family and tried to keep in contact with them as time allowed. She looked forward to visiting them and seeing her nieces and nephews and their families. She encouraged them and prayed for them. Sister Porphyria was predeceased by her parents; brothers, Nicholas, Walter, Philip and John; and sisters, Helen, Stella, Anne, Florence, Jean, and Veronica (Verne). She is survived by her sisters, Doris in Edmonton, Clara in Vancouver and numerous nieces and nephews with their families. Rosary will be prayed at 6:30 p.m. and Parastas will be sung at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 2 at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, 737 Bannerman Ave. Divine Liturgy will be celebrated 10:00 a.m., Thursday, March 3 also at the Church with a Basilian Father officiating. Interment will follow in Holy Family Cemetery. SISTER PORPHYRIA ANASTASIA KORPAN, SSMI Donations in Sr. Porphyria's memory may be made to the SSMI Missions: IHM School, Holy Family Home or SSMI Novitiate. VICHNAYA PAMYAT KORBAN FUNERAL CHAPEL 956-2193

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 02, 2011