Obituary of Olga Pidzamecky

Pidzamecky, Olga. (née Marchewka) –

Born April 1, 1926. Passed away peacefully in her 92nd year at Ivan Franko Home, Toronto, on February 14, 2018 with son Taras keeping vigil at her side on behalf of all her loving children. Devoted wife of 57 years of the late Wasyl (“William") Pidzamecky (2009). Beloved Mother of Christine, Leon, Taras ("Terry") and dear step-mother to Katherine and Robert ("Bohdan"). Devoted Grandmother of Nicholas and Andrea and their spouses Michelle and Mallory, and Paul, Hanya, Wasyl ("William"), Sophia, and Alexander. Great-Grandmother of Carter. Dear Mother-in-law of Walter, Angelina, Rocco, Nancy and Ulana. Sister-in-law of Karol and the late Mary Pidzamecky of Etobicoke, and Aunt to their sons Raymond, Tom and the late Sub Deacon Michael. Aunt of Maria Bek, of Pidruda, Ukraine. Cousin of Ira Ohirko of Lviv, Olga (Marchewka) Colantonio of Mississauga, the late John Marchewka of Toronto, the Kowtalo family of Buffalo, Nadia Diuk of New York, Oryst Pidzamecky of Guelph and the late Morris Pidzamecky of Sudbury. Predeceased by her parents Panteleimon and Kateryna (née Makohin) Marchewka, and her sisters Maria and Sophia, with the fate of her brother Omelian unknown. She was seized in early 1942 to be a forced labourer in Germany during WW II, after which she fled repatriation to Soviet communist tyranny, immigrating to Canada in March 1948. First working in the cafeteria of St. John Tuberculosis Hospital, New Brunswick, she then moved to Toronto and then to the Thorold-St. Catharines area upon marrying. While in the Landau Displaced Persons camp in the American Zone of occupied Germany, her family was ethnically cleansed from their native Zukiv on Polish territory to Sapova, Ukraine where half died shortly thereafter in 1947. Proprietress with her husband of Bowlaway Restaurant in Thorold c. 1963 - 68, and housekeeper at Brock University for 14 years until her retirement in 1985. A life-long active member of the Ukrainian community. Past member of the Ukrainian Women’s Organization of Canada (St. Catharines) and the UWO Desna Choir, and Myrhorod Seniors Club. Past parishioner St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, Thorold, Sts. Cyril & Methodius UC Church, St. Catharines, and St. Demetrius UC Church, in Etobicoke, where she and Wasyl moved in 2007 due to declining health. Olga enjoyed Ukrainian embroidery, sewing, flower arranging, and singing, and was an avid walker, who found contentment in spending time by the water in Port Dalhousie and Niagara-on- the-Lake. The family extends their sincere thanks to the care staff of St. Demetrius Residence where Olga lived earlier, the clergy of St. Demetrius Church, clergy of Nativity of Our Lord RC Church for bringing her communion at Centennial Park Place, the staff of Ivan Franko Home for their loving care of Olga in her last months, to the clergy of St. Nicholas UC Church who serve the home, to Rev. Father Borys Hemon for administering to Olga the sacrament of Holy Unction, and to Rev. Father Peter Galadza for his prayers with Olga in her last days. Visitation will be held at the GEORGE DARTE FUNERAL HOME, 585 Carlton St., St. Catharines from 2-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. on Monday, February 19, 2018. Panachyda will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Monday. Divine Liturgy will be held at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Ukrainian Catholic Church, 14 Rolls Ave., St. Catharines, on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at 10 a.m. A Burial will follow the Liturgy at Victoria Lawn Cemetery, Queenston St., St. Catharines. In lieu of flowers, donations to Ivan Franko Home, Sts. Cyril and Methodius UC Church, St. Demetrius UC Church, or the UNF Foundation would be greatly appreciated.

Memory Eternal! Vichnaya Pamiat!