STEVE (STEFAN) PETELYCKY

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

STEVE (STEFAN) PETELYCKY Steve died peacefully August 29, 2014 at Richmond General Hospital at the age of 91. He was born in Ushnia in Western Ukraine on May 24, 1923. Steve's life had its challenges and his philosophical motto in his later years became "That's life!" Steve was fortunate to survive his imprisonment in Nazi concentration camps during the Second World War. His experience in those camps is recounted in his book "Into Auschwitz, for Ukraine". After the war Steve married Sofia and they immigrated to Canada in 1950 where they settled in Winnipeg. In 1966, Steve secured a job with CP Air and moved to Richmond, BC. He worked for CP Air/Canadian Airlines for 20 1/2 years before retiring. Steve and Sofia spent 46 years in their home on Blundell Road, which also housed their home business, Canadian Ukrainian Handcrafts. Steve was a rizbar (wood carver) who enjoyed making and carving plates, crosses, picture frames, boxes and other items which he sold in their store. His works were displayed in several museums, notably the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Ottawa. Steve also enjoyed talking politics and travelling. Steve was an active champion of Ukrainian causes of political, religious and humanitarian nature. He was a founding member of the World League of Ukrainian Political Prisoners. He was involved in the collection, shipment and distribution of humanitarian and medical aid from Canada to Ukraine for over 10 years. His efforts earned him a medal from the Ukrainian Government. Steve was an active member and volunteer at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church (Winnipeg), Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church (St. Mary's, Vancouver), the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of BC, and the Ukrainian Community Society of Ivan Franco (Richmond). Steve is predeceased by his wife Sofia (2014), son Taras (1964), mother Julia (1987), brother Safron (1959), and father Mykhailo (1929). He will be lovingly remembered and dearly missed by his children Ihor (Oksana), Marian, Theresa (Trevor), and Andrew (Ashley); his grand-children, Julian, Marta and Tony; his sister-in-law Maria; nieces Anna (Peter) and Oksana; nephew Myron and his great-nieces Marisa (Emmanuel), Nina (Ben), Tania (Pete), and Alexandra. Panachyda will be held at 7:00 p.m., Friday September 12, 2014 at St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church located at 550 West 14th Ave., Vancouver. Divine Liturgy will be celebrated the next day at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 13, 2014 at St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church, followed by a reception after the Mass. Interment to Holy Family Cemetery in Winnipeg will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church or a charity of your choice. The family would like to thank the nurses at Richmond General Hospital for their care and compassion. The family would also like to express their appreciation and thanks to the staff at Gilmore Gardens for their compassion and support of Steve, especially after Sofia passed away. Steve often said he never thought he would be so fortunate to live at such a nice place as Gilmore Gardens. VICHNAYA PAMYAT Kearney Funeral Services 604-736-0268

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 06, 2014