MYRTLE WACHNUK (STAWYCHNY)

Condolences & Memories (7 entries)

• my deepest condolences to all the family. Myrtle and Bill will always have a special place in my heart. I will miss her forever. - Posted by: gerald kulbaba (godson) on: Aug 15, 2013

• I knew myrtle for a long time, did not see her often but she was always ready for a hug. Miss you MYrtle - Posted by: Shirley Mornau (Friend) on: Aug 15, 2013

• I am Myrtle’s Son In-Law Stephen and it is my honor to be able to give Myrtle’s Eulogy. She was born November 13, 1930 in Poplarfield on the Stawychny family farm and as the youngest and given one name, Myrtle, by her father. She had three older brothers, Peter, Henry and Sam and two older Sisters Olga and Toni. The family had a hard life living off the land but were happy. It was especially hard for the family when their young mother passed away at what time when Myrtle was barely three. Surrounded by their extended Ukrainian family and friends the Stawychny family now without a mother kept somehow made it work. You are here today because in some way Myrtle touched your heart with her kindness, generosity, caring or simply listening to your voice. To Myrtle whether you were a Daughter, Son, Niece, Cousin or friend she was always there to listen. You were especially lucky if the chat was in her home where she always served food and drink which made the visit even more delightful. Myrtle was determined to make something of herself and despite all odds and against the popular thinking at the time, she completed her education. Once in the big city of Winnipeg, Myrtle had many jobs but the best was where she met her husband to be Bill. The courtship was long because Bill never imagined he could land such a perfect wife. A year or so later the family started and soon the couple were a family with one daughter Sharon and one son Randy. I first met Mrs. Wachnuk in February 1969 when Sharon introduced me as her new friend to see if it would be alright to introduce me to her father. I soon became a part of their family and never left spending more time at 1986 Bannatyne than at home. Even after we were married there was Sunday supper cooked by Mom and chats about what happened that week, 1986 Bannatyne, in Brooklands, was home for many years and it underwent many renovations as we tried to repay Mom for all she did for us. Sharon and I stopped by one day for a Sunday supper and a very young Randy was standing at the bottom of one of the six 6 foot deep holes he had dug by the back door after tearing out the steps. He said he was making Mom a back porch, a place to hang coats and to put a washer and dryer. So Sharon using her skills taught by her mother said “this should be more than that and it should be bigger much bigger.” So after digging a few more holes, we built Mom a new kitchen. She must have loved it because she spent 18 hours a day in there. This was just one of numerous projects Randy completed to renovate her entire house, his way of showing he loved his Ma. Things were rolling along just the way it should be then Bill had a second heart attack at home and passed away shortly thereafter in February of 2006. Sharon and I were comforted by the fact that Randy was there to help Mom. He lets Ma cook and clean for him because Myrtle needs someone to care for and needs to feel useful and to keep busy. Myrtle rarely liked to go anywhere and had no end of excuses for not going but when we forced her to go she always enjoyed herself. There was one place she always just had to go and that was to a funeral. We never could figure that one out. She would make Randy or Sharon and sometimes both drive her to the farthest reaches of the province to attend a distant friend’s funeral. I was thinking about this last night as I tried to get a glimpse of some of the shooting stars which pass through in large numbers every August each year. Our lives are just like those shooting stars which gather each year and shine until they fade into a memory. And now I understand, all the funerals Myrtle attended are a gathering of friend and family just like this one. We meet and talk about the star that just faded and hope we don’t meet too soon for the next star to fade. While the morning sun brings a new day and things to come, Myrtle’s passing will take the morning sun a little longer to shine as bright in our lives with our Mom. Myrtle and her family were never regular church goers. During Mom’s difficult passing I heard Sharon and Randy both called out God when they thought they could bear no more. This told me they knew there was a God. They just didn’t recognize God. Each day God was present in Mom’s hospital room as he brought family to visit every day sometimes in large numbers. Each day God was present when he gave Mom the strength to recognize and acknowledge them with a word, a nod, a wink, an outreached hand. While it was painful to us all seeing her fade, Mom shone brightly to the end like the shooting stars and quietly and without regret, having said a final hello and a good bye she was gone. Gone but not forgotten as a little piece of Myrtle is in our hearts waiting for us to live a better life until it is our turn to burn our brightest. I know this is not something I normally do but it is something many of us should do more often, so could we please hold hands and bow our heads I would like to say a prayer of thanks. Thank you for allowing this family to gather and bless those who are not here today, we ask a blessing of the less fortunate so they someday may feast as we do each day. We are grateful that those no longer here by our side, our Grandparents, Parents, Husbands and loved ones, now safely in your arms. I know they are watching over us with a smile and we miss them very much. Thank you for watching over us all but especially those of us who are aging with an illness, so they too may be with us each year and for many years to come. I ask that you guide each of us every day to be a better more caring person. When we are with family and friends it is times like this we all know how lucky we are as a result of your blessings. Now let's us continue the pray together Our father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, And the power, and the glory, For ever and ever. Amen. - Posted by: Stephen Burdy (Eulogy Presentor) on: Aug 15, 2013

• I am very sorry for your family's loss. You were always such a great and inviting lady! You made us some great Ukrainian dinners! - Posted by: Jenna Burdy & Matt Lowry (Sharon's Niece) on: Aug 13, 2013

• Family Sorry for your loss of Mother. Those dam strokes are not very peaceful way of going. I worked with your Dad at Eatons and enjoyed my visits with your Mom from down the street. And watching you kids grow up. Enjoy the good memories, they do last a lifetime after the hurt fades. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Joyce & Doug Sewell - Posted by: Joyce & Doug Sewell (former neighbour) on: Aug 13, 2013

• I love you Mom. Your spirit, kindness and generosity lives on in Sharon and Randy. - Posted by: Stephen Burdy (Son In-Law) on: Aug 13, 2013

• I am so sorry to lose my dearest friend. I will miss all the phone calls we shared and all the good memories we made together. Rest in peace dear friend and I will never forget you. Toney - Posted by: Toney Kulbaba (friend) on: Aug 13, 2013