SYBYDLO, Stefania “Stephanie” (Diakowycz) - Passed away peacefully in her 92nd year at the Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre on Monday, May 18, 2020.
Stefania was born in Lisnyky, Berezhany, Ukraine where she enjoyed a peaceful childhood within a loving family. She developed a strong faith in God which helped her survive the trauma of being in the way of a raging war and fleeing in the midst of it. The family eventually ended up in a Displaced Persons’ Camp in Ellwangen, Germany. Although life was difficult in postwar Germany, the Ukrainian refugee community organized a church, school, cultural activities, and clubs. Stefania graduated with a diploma in dressmaking.
Stefania arrived in Montreal in October, 1948 where she joined a church and forged new friendships as she worked for two years to pay for her passage to Canada. She was able to sponsor her family who arrived in time for her wedding to Peter (deceased April 4,1991) in October 1951. The newlyweds settled in Toronto where they raised four children.
Stefania had varied interests and was able to converse on any topic. She enjoyed cultural events, listening to news commentaries, and reading everything from newspapers to the Bible. Not only did Stefania make bread baking look easy, but she was a great cook, skilled in sewing, embroidery, knitting, crocheting, and gardening. An exemplary mother, she cared deeply for her family, neighbours and Ukraine, not out of obligation, but because of who she was.
Stefania leaves behind her children Jaroslaw (the late Katya), Mary (Nicholas Tanchak), Bohdan (Victoria), and Alexander (Ann) along with nine grandchildren (Bohdan (Lauren), Andrew, Michael, Stephanie, Peter (Nadia), Peter, Pavlo, Stephan, and Elia) and two great grandchildren (Charlie and Lavinia).
In lieu of flowers donations to the Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre, 60 Richview Rd, Etobicoke, ON M9A 5E4 or St. Demetrius Ukrainian Catholic Church, 135 La Rose Ave, Etobicoke, ON M9P 1A6 would be appreciated by the family.
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