RIEJA OLYA

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RIEJA OLYA LeCLERC 1983 - 2002 Rieja LeClerc died peacefully at home in her sleep on Friday, February 22, 2002, at one oclock in the afternoon, after a three-year courageous and stubborn battle with cancer. She leaves heartbroken and inconsolable her parents, Yaroslava and David LeClerc, Uncle Bohdan (Zajac), her most favourite Auntie Olya (Marko), Uncle Michael and Auntie Indira Marko and their children, Madison and Stefan. Madison was Riejas special cousin. They shared a loving and joyful bond perhaps because they were both born on September 3. She leaves behind her beloved grandparents, Stefan and Anela Marko, who from the beginning told her stories of Ukraine and imparted the humour specific to that part of the world. Rieja leaves to mourn her death close friends and school chums: Angelina Musto, Jacqui Hollander, Eliot Britton, Marie Hutchinson and many who are unnamed. Riejas interest in seeing the world was sparked when Angelina Musto and her family invited her to accompany them on a family trip to Long Beach. Rieja also leaves to mourn friends of the family, Ingrid and Stan Gryacheski, Donna and Vic Mondor. Rieja was intensely loyal to her family and friends. She possessed a personal code of ethics, an inner voice that simply would not allow her to go against her grain. This core was further enhanced by her dignity, elegance, her regal bearing and courage of conviction. Folklore has it that Rieja entered this world without haste, unblemished and quietly. As her Dad held all eight pounds and 10 ounces of her she opened her eyes, looked at the ceiling and wondered what she had gotten herself into. Rieja preferred and often demanded to do things at her own pace. Rieja attended Ecole Varennes, Glenwood Junior High and College Jeanne Sauve. Her three-year battle with the illness started in 1999 and for a while she was unable to attend school. By Grade 12, it seems by sheer force of will, her health greatly improved and she was able to complete Grade 12 in exemplary fashion, without a single sick day. She savoured the intellectual challenges. It seems she hit her stride as to what she was capable of accomplishing. Rieja began to understand, on a profound level, that her passions and prodigious talent in Fine Art converged. She had all the characteristics of a great artist - wisdom, intelligence, passion, talent, individuality, intense concentration, obsession and an imagination as endless as the Universe. Rieja was thrilled when she learned that she had been accepted into the Fine Arts program at the University of Manitoba. She could not believe her good fortune that she would be able to spend hours at a time making art. Rieja was a rare and beautiful person who had many interests. She raced her own go-cart for the Manitoba Carting Association and, in her class, she was delighted beyond compare to race very well in the midst of a gaggle of boys who watched her every move. Rieja spent countless, happy hours working in various craft media: beadwork, origami, Ukrainian Easter eggs, knitting, Fimo and clay. Watching Rieja work, lost in the beauty of creation, was a gift to us all. She had a sure and deft touch that we marvelled at and wondered at the miracle of it all. Rieja had a flare for putting together seemingly incongruent pieces of clothing to create a unique outfit. She revelled in the accoutrements of style - searching through racks of jewelry or hosiery or scanning the surreal world of cosmetics or finding gems at Value Village. She was confident in her own sense of style. One of Riejas greatest passions throughout life was swimming. When she immersed herself in the water she became part of it - fluid and poetic and serene. Rieja was working toward a Bronze Medal when illness overcame her. She was pleased beyond measure to have visited Hawaii twice where she was able to snorkel among the rainbow of saltwater fish in Hanauma Bay. She so wanted to go again. Rieja was a Canadian of Ukrainian, Dutch and Metis ancestry who spoke English and French and adored Japanese, Chinese and Indian cuisine. Only in Canada! She spoke a smattering of Ukrainian with, strangely enough, a French accent. Naturally, this was a great source of amusement. She just could not master that Ukrainian "r". Rieja was the champion perogy maker in the family. Her agile fingers created perfectly shaped perogies in record time. None of us could ever beat her. From an early age, Rieja made Paska at Easter. She learned to mix up the dough and then knead it masterfully. She always decorated one especially for her familys basket. There are so many joys to recount as we lament her death with tears and grief as deep as the ocean. Rieja was that star-studded miracle that enriched our lives and held us together with her love. For this we are grateful. Many people showed many kindnesses during Riejas illness. We wish to specially thank Dr. Rochelle Yanofsky, Cathy Bourne, Cathy Lucas, Dawn Kidder, the staff of CancerCare, the staff of CK5 and the staff of Ecole Jeanne Sauve whose expertise, understanding and compassion was palpable. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 2, at 12:00 noon, at Knysh Funeral Chapel, 1020 Main St. Service will terminate at the funeral chapel. "I love you more than nature, because you are nature itself. I love you more than freedom, because without you freedom is prison. I love you incautiously, like an abyss - not a groove. I love you more than possible, and more than impossible too." Excerpt from "I Love You More Than Nature" by Yevgeny Yevtushenko VICHNAYA PAMYAT ETERNAL REMEMBRANCE KNYSH FUNERAL CHAPEL 1020 MAIN STREET 582-0973

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 27, 2002