Pauline Dyrkacz

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Pauline Dyrkacz on January 13, 2023.  Left to cherish her memory and to celebrate a life well-lived are her three beloved daughters Andrea, Marianne and Donna and their spouses.  She was pleased to welcome and delight in six grandchildren: Mikolaj, Majka, Marika, Paul, Matthew and Emily; and five precious great-grandchildren: Kera, Malakaj, Mailo, Uenuku and Waiora.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 34 years, Mikolaj (Nick), in 1991, by her parents, Fred Sr. and Maria Klym and siblings Fred T., Anna, Helen, Therese, Harry, Peter, Elgean, Sylvia, Stephen, Natalie, Mary, Louis and Michael.

Left to mourn are her three daughters and their families, numerous nieces, nephews and their families, and a host of dear friends.

Pauline was a gifted and dedicated educator.  Her teaching career was based, primarily with the Winnipeg School Division where she touched the lives and hearts of many children and their families.

God appoints a time for everything.  In good time, Pauline became a devoted wife and mother.  She inspired us to do our best and to attain a well-rounded education.  Her commendable plan for family-living included time for prayer, for stories, for games and recreation. 

Our home was always alive with music - beginning with stereo music of every genre.  Her daughters were enrolled in piano lessons, and later participated in mandolin and bandura ensembles - which led to a life-long appreciation of fine music or an involvement in a career in that area.  And we all sang in the Church choir.

Mother chauffeured us to various activities for many years.  She filled her in between times with cooking delicious home-made meals and with preserving, freezing or pickling vegetables from Dad’s luscious gardens.  And she loved preparing festive foods for the holidays, as well as decorating marvelous theme-cakes for our birthday parties.  She also served on the school’s PTA and canvassed for charities.  When Dad became ill, mother looked after him with great devotion, tenderness and prayer.

Pauline loved choral singing, and over the years, she added her lilting soprano voice to the rich blend of several church and community choirs.  She sang in events leading up to the festive celebration of the Millennium of Christianity for Ukrainians, 1988, and the Birds Hill Park Open-Air Mass, during the memorable visit of His Holiness Pope John Paul II to Winnipeg in that year. 

A generous and caring person, Pauline was an involved parishioner, and an active member of several organizations in the wider community, where she held various responsible positions.  She enjoyed her long-term membership in the ladies’ Auxiliary, an Executive member and then, President from 1987-94.  Later, she was a Board Member of the Catholic Foundation of Manitoba, 1994-1999.

A long-term member of the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League of Canada - UCWLC - she also served as a Branch President.  On the Archeparchial level, she served in various positions as well as President, 1993-97 and held various positions on the National Executive over a long period of time.   She was a delegate and/or presenter to conferences both in Canada and abroad.

In all her endeavors, Pauline worked with humility, compassion and generosity for the needs of humanity in the wider community and beyond.  “In recognition of her many years of Church, Organizations and Community, and for her exemplary family life,” Pauline was the recipient of several awards:

- Holy Family Home Plaque, 1989

- Catholic Foundation of Manitoba, Caritas Award, 1997

- World Federation of Ukrainian Womens’ Organizations, WFUWO, Certificate of Merit, 2002

- Awarded the title of the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League of Canada - UCWLC   

- Honorary Life Member, HLM, and Plaque, presented by the National Congress, 2007, “in grateful recognition of her outstanding contribution in the development of the Organization.”

Dearest Mother, you live on in the young minds you inspired; in the projects you helped to initiate; in the lives you nurtured and guided and in the hearts that love you still… Your presence will be with us always.

The family extends sincere thanks to the staff at Tuxedo Villa Extendicare for their compassionate care and kindness given our mother during the last year.

Pallbearers will be Brian Erkelens, Meredith Klassen, Paul Klassen, Lori Murphy, Allen Schiller and Brandon Spulnick.

Honourary Pallbearers are David Cameron-Brown, Majka Cherrington, Marika Cherrington, Mikolaj Cherrington, Andrew Klassen and Matthew Klassen.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made in memory of Pauline Dyrkacz, to the Canadian Cancer Society, Manitoba Division, or to St. Anne Church Building Fund, 35 Marcie St.  Winnipeg, MB, R2G 3S4. 

Panachyda will be held on Monday, January 16th at 7:00 p.m. at St. Anne’s Ukrainian Catholic Church (35 Marcie Street). The funeral service will be celebrated at Korban Funeral Chapel (907 Main Street) on Tuesday, January 17th at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Fr. Alan Wizinsky officiating.  Interment will follow at Glen Lawn Memorial Gardens, 455 Lagimodiere Blvd., Winnipeg, MB. A 40th day Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, February 18th at 10:00 a.m. at St. Anne’s Ukrainian Catholic Church.

For those unable to attend, the events will also be live-streamed and recorded through the Korban Funeral Chapel Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/korbanchapel.

Так бо Бог полюбив світ, що дав Сина Свого Однорoдженого, щоб кожен, хто вірує в Нього, не згинув, але мав життя вічне.  Івана 3:16

VICHNAYA PAM’YAT - ETERNAL MEMORY

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