NELLIE PAWLIK

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NELLIE (ANELIA) PAWLIK 1913 - 2015 On Saturday, April 11, 2015, Nellie passed away peacefully, at the age of 101 years, at the Seven Oaks Hospital. Nellie lived a long and happy life. She was best known for her dedicated service to the Ukrainian community, for her love of horticulture and for her devotion to family. Nellie will be dearly missed by family and friends. Nellie was born on May 20, 1913, southwest of Veregin, SK. After finishing high school in Kamsack, she completed her education while residing at the Mohyla Institute in Saskatoon where she obtained a teaching certificate. During this time, she also developed a love of the Ukrainian Arts, especially embroidery, and began a life-long quest to nurture, preserve, and teach Ukrainian embroidery from the different regions of Ukraine. Nellie met her husband Andrew at the Mohyla Institute. They were married in 1935, and soon moved to Winnipeg where Nellie began to immerse herself in a life of dedication to family and community. At St. Michael's Parish, she helped found the Olha Kobylianska branch of the Ukrainian Women's Association. Later, in 1941, she helped organize the Lesia Ukrainka Women's Branch at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, and became its first president. She continued to work on many local, provincial and national committees throughout the years; in 1982, the women's association presented her with a lifetime honorary membership. For close to 20 years, Nellie was also financial secretary for the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral and the Ukrainian Fraternal Society. In 1950, Nellie was part of a small group of women who founded the Manitoba branch of the Ukrainian Museum of Canada. She spent more than 40 years curating, collecting artifacts, and teaching weaving, pysanky and embroidery. In 1977, she received a lifetime membership from the Ukrainian Museum of Canada. Over the years, Nellie was also active at the Museum of Man and Nature and a judge at the Dauphin Folk Festival. She taught many workshops in communities and schools and for St. Andrew's College. In 1992, the province of Manitoba presented Nellie with the Prix Manitoba Award, a Heritage Award for "enhancing the quality of provincial life in the areas of culture, heritage, recreation, and multiculturalism". For her dedication to the Ukrainian community in Canada she was awarded the Shevchenko Medal from the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. She also received the Award of Excellence from USRL. In 1994, CBC produced a documentary about Nellie's life and volunteer work for their series "Our Stories". For decades, Nellie passionately cultivated a beautiful yard on Leila Avenue. She was a member of the West Kildonan Horticultural Society from its inception in 1958 and was later given a lifetime membership. She won many top awards for her flowers over the years. Nellie loved family gatherings and hosting guests for Sunday dinners. She enjoyed family picnics, berry picking, baking, going to Grand Beach, and making varenyky and pysanky with her grandchildren. She travelled to many countries with her husband and friends. On June 9, 2013, family and friends gathered to celebrate her 100th birthday, where we all fondly remembered her rich life. In her later years, Nellie loved to look through photo albums and reminisce about family and friends. Her memory will be cherished and kept close to all of our hearts. Nellie was predeceased by her husband Andrew, sons Ivan and Roman, siblings, Paul, Peter, Nestor, Zoria and Stephanie. She is survived by daughters Zennovia (Orest) and Dianna, daughter-in-law Sylvia, sister Bernie, six grandchildren: Darcia (Mike), Alana (Tom), Diana, David (Donna), Christina and Nadine; and six great-grandchildren: Lindsey, Jordan, Matthias, Simon, Evan and Olivia. Prayer Services will be held Friday, April 17, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Rite is Saturday, April 18 at 10:00 a.m. Both are at the Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral of Holy Trinity, 1175 Main Street, Winnipeg. Interment to follow at Glen Eden Cemetery. Those wishing to make an expression of sympathy may make donations to UMC Manitoba Branch, UMC Saskatoon or UOC Cathedral of Holy Trinity.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 17, 2015