STEPHAN SABARA D.V.M., Ph.D.

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

STEPHAN SABARA D.V.M., Ph.D. Stephan passed away May 24, 2001 at the age of 91. My dearest husband, friend and father, you were suffering a lot in the last days of your life, but your childhood was not any better. You took care of five small children, your brothers and sisters, because your mother was sick and your father was fighting a war. Your family properties were confiscated and being homeless you took your brothers and sisters by the hand and begged from door to door for a piece of bread. At that time you decided to go to school, learn and study hard in order to help your family. You worked by day and went to private teachers in the evening. Being a young man you dreamt about an independent Ukraine. For those beliefs you paid dearly, being imprisoned by three occupying regimes. With the help of a benefactor, Metropolitan Andrij Sheptyckyij, you were able to obtain a high school diploma, subsequently entering Veterinary College in Lviv, Western Ukraine. Approaching fronts interrupted your studies in Lviv and we both landed in Germany. After the war, with the help of the International Refuge Organization, you continued your studies in Hanover, Germany obtaining a degree in veterinary medicine and later a Ph.D. in microbiology. Then came the gypsy life in Europe, we were married and landed in Canada in 1950 where life was not always easy. You did not know the language at first and felt lucky to get jobs cleaning basements after the big flood in Winnipeg, then you dug city sewers, worked at Dominion Bridge and attended English evening classes in order to pass the Manitoba Veterinary Association examination. Soon after you joined the Federal Government, Department of Agriculture and upon your retirement you continued to work with small animals and race horses. We were blessed with two wonderful children, Marta and Petro. You instilled in your children a sense of hard work and pride in their ancestry. Unfortunately Petro passed away in 1993 and, since then, nightmares tormented you, as his departure was hard to rationalize. Sleep softly my dearest husband, friend and father. Dream of Ukraine finally free, about the Carpathian Mountains (your birth place), blue skies and golden wheat fields. May the friendly Canadian soil embrace your remains. Your deeds for us are immortal. We love you so much. To honour his wishes, a private family funeral was held May 26th. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Children of Chernobyl c/o Ukrainian Canadian Social Services, 235 McGregor, Winnipeg, R2W 4W5. KORBAN FUNERAL CHAPEL

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 27, 2001