HELEN IRENE STEFANIUK (GUMIENNY)

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HELEN IRENE STEFANIUK (nee GUMIENNY) Early Friday morning, February 25, 2005, after a recently diagnosed battle with cancer, Helen Irene Stefaniuk (nee Gumienny) passed away at the St. Boniface Hospital at the age of 86. Left to cherish her memory are her son-in-law Albin Polz, grandchildren Rev. Robert Polz, James Polz, Diana Morgan, Edward Polz, and Susan Polz (and husband Kris Hiebert), her great-grandsons Jordan Fulawka and Matthew Polz, her sister Anna Lesny of Chelmsford, Ontario, and numerous other relatives, in-laws and friends. Helen was predeceased by her husband William (Basil) Stefaniuk, her daughter Elizabeth (Betty) Margaret Polz, her father Anthony Gumienny and mother Michalina (Lena) Gumienny (nee Budz), and her brothers Stanislaus (Stan) and Archibald (Archie). She grieved the loss of her grandson Kent Fulawka in the fall of 2001. Helen Irene was born on October 17, 1918 at Rossburn, Manitoba. There, both at home and school, she began learning the lessons of life. As a young woman she moved to Winnipeg. Coping with the demands of living in the city, she remembered the many lessons of younger years and sought more and more to emulate the Christian example of her loving father Anthony. She married William Stefaniuk, also called Bill, formerly of Sandy Lake, Manitoba, at St. Mary's Cathedral in Winnipeg. She became a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, noted for her simple, practical, straightforward yet loving approach to the joys and challenges of daily life. Helen and her husband Bill were founding members of the Ukrainian Catholic Parish of St. Josaphat in Winnipeg. For many years Helen sang for the Divine Liturgy as a member of the parish choir. As a longtime member of the Ukrainian Catholic Women's League, she was very involved in numerous parish activities including the regular making of perogies. These were always warmly welcomed, together with her pumpkin pies and other baking, on the table of her daughter and son-in-law's family. Helen's activities and friendships extended well beyond the parish into the community at large. She was an active life-time member of the Canadian Daughters League, an educational and sororal society which was established in 1923 to promote the interests of Canada. With her husband Bill, Helen enjoyed taking weekend excursions out of the city by car to see places and friends in the country. With Bill at the wheel and Helen as co-pilot , they also travelled the various regions of the continent. All through her life Helen had a great fascination with maps and atlases. Following the sudden death of her husband William (Bill) on June 30, 1974, Helen continued to travel taking short bus trips over the line and a trip with friends to Hawaii which she enjoyed immensely. With the much appreciated support of trusted friends Helen continued for many years as an active member of St. Josaphat's Parish. Nevertheless, during the weekdays she also began to frequent St. Mary's Cathedral to worship in the western liturgical tradition in which she had been raised as a child. After moving to live next door to her daughter and son-in-law, Helen became a full time member of the cathedral parish. Not unlike the prophetess Anna in the scriptures who spent day and night in the temple, Helen's commitment to prayer, penance and thanksgiving became even more visible as she made her almost daily trek from home to the cathedral church for the celebration of the Eucharist. The unexpected death of her beloved daughter Elizabeth (Betty) Margaret on May 7, 2002 was a terrible shock which, while most painful, she nevertheless bore with great calmness, trust and dignity because of her faith in God's promise of eternal life. In spite of many physical hardships, until her death she continued to live each day to the fullest extent possible noting that because of her daughter's death I need to be both a mother and grandmother to my grandchildren. Even from her hospital bed, with candour and a sense of humour, Helen continued to share her stories and wisdom with family members, friends and caregivers who were fortunate to have had the opportunity to spend time with her. Now that God has called us to bid Grandma Helen farewell in the hope of the Resurrection, her family extends an invitation to all to join with them in the liturgical rites of Christian burial. Together let us offer worship, praise, and thanksgiving to God for the gift of Helen's life among us and let us beseech God's mercy that she may experience the inheritance promised to all the saints. Prayer vigil for the deceased will be held 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1 at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main Street. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 2 at St. Mary's Cathedral, 353 St. Mary Avenue, with her grandson Reverend Fr. Robert Polz presiding. Rite of Committal to follow in Assumption Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Helen's memory to L'Arche Winnipeg Inc., 118 Regent Avenue E., Winnipeg, MB R2C 0C1. As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:6-8 CROPO FUNERAL CHAPEL 586-8044

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 28, 2005