PATRICIA KREKLEWETZ

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PATRICIA KREKLEWETZ

Remembering the Life of Our Mother

When we look at someone’s tombstone and see the dates of birth and death, we can readily subtract the numbers to find the number or quantity of years lived. But we rarely take time to notice that little mark, the hyphen between those dates, and reflect upon what that insignificant little mark really means ... it means a whole lifetime. It means the quality of one’s life. It includes how life was spent and who was involved in living that life. With this in mind, let us consider what that little mark meant in the life of our mother.

She was born in Foam Lake, SK on Leap Year Day in 1944 to Harry and Kay Chyrski, the second daughter of six children. She lived the first three years in a tiny hamlet of Tuffnell, SK. Then the family moved to Sheho, SK where her father (grandpa Harry) had built and managed his own hardware store.

Our mother was always proud of her Ukrainian heritage. Her father had emigrated from Ternopil in Western Ukraine in his late teens and married a Ukrainian Canadian seamstress from Ituna, SK. Not having much education themselves, (Harry had Grade 3; Kay had Grade 8), her parents had instilled in their children a sense of work ethic and strong values of education, music, and religious upbringing in the spirit of traditional Ukrainian customs. Likewise, our mother tried to pass on these same cultural traditions to her children.

She attended Sheho Public School to Grade 9, was bussed to Foam Lake High School, and was fortunate to attend Sacred Heart Academy in Yorkton, SK for her Grade 11 year. In 1963 she married Raymond Kreklewetz and they took up residence in the newly-established mining community of Thompson, MB. There, our father worked at the INCO Nickel Mine and our mother taught elementary school children.

Her life in Thompson was a busy one as she taught full-time, taught piano lessons after school, made perogies and catered dinners at the church hall weekends, and managed to take evening courses for about 10 years through the Inter-Universities North Program obtaining her Bachelor of Teaching degree from Brandon University (1978) and Bachelor of Education degree from University of Manitoba (1979). After her children left home, she pursued further education at the University of Manitoba where she received her Master of Education degree and certification in Special Education from University of Manitoba. (1991).

Central to her life were her church and her children. In Thompson she was actively involved in the beginnings of the Ukrainian Catholic parish there, serving in executive positions, participating in various UCWLC activities and acting as a delegate to the UCWLC congresses in Winnipeg. She led the singing in the church choir and assumed cantor duties. Along with two other parishioners, she was instrumental in developing the constitution (policy manual) for St. Joseph’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Thompson. (As we children recall, she was the one who dragged us kids to church every Sunday, had us boys serving at the altar, registered us for two weeks of Ukrainian Camp at Gimli, MB, and drove us to Youth Group meetings and summer camps in Moak Lake.

Our mother was a person with many talents. She played the piano and, as young children, we were lulled to sleep by her playing Mozart and other classical sonatinas. She was very creative and enjoyed writing and directing humourous plays and skits for school events and also for her parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. She loved to celebrate at family gatherings with her own dedications in verse and song (It was usually our mother who started up joyous renditions of “Mnohaya Lita” for every occasion). She designed wedding and anniversary scrapbooks for family members and even created a Chyrski Family Trivial Pursuit game. She compiled our family tree and organized family reunions. She was an avid writer who felt it was important to preserve memories of the past. In doing so, she wrote histories of both parents, wrote tributes to each of her children, and began writing about her own personal life’s journey.

She knew how to save every cent and was a charitable giver. Love of her Ukrainian roots was shown by her generous supports to help needy relatives in Ukraine, to sponsor two seminarians at Holy Spirit Seminary in Lviv, Ukraine, and to support the orphanages and building of churches in Ukraine. Most recently she sent donations to the injured of the Maidan in Ukraine.

She was a dedicated teacher for 35 years in Thompson where she touched the lives of many, many children, helping them learn to become better persons in society. In 1997 her failing eyesight due to cataracts caused her to leave teaching and move to Winnipeg to be closer to her children and medical specialists. She underwent eye surgery that gave her a new lease on life. In 2004 she retired from teaching and spent her retirement years quietly, taking a third trip to visit relatives in Ukraine, and spending time with her grandchildren. She sang in the Holy Family Church choir and helped develop their musical repertoire by introducing new hymns. Having a keen interest in learning more about her Byzantine Rite, she attended religious courses, Emmaus sessions, Bat Kol presentations, and delved into theological books for leisure reading. It was through her faith and her prayer life from which she gained inner strength at the most difficult times in life...

From humble beginnings in a little town in Sheho, SK, our mother fulfilled a lifetime of personal goals. According to her, the greatest achievement in life was bringing up her children, almost single-handedly, in an isolated community way up North. She was a loving and devoted mother who worked hard for the betterment of her family. She was especially proud of her children’s professional achievements in life. In later years, it was her grandchildren who brought her so much joy!

She was blessed with three children - son Robert (Franceen) in Etobicoke, ON; daughter Christine (Andrew) of Winnipeg; and son David in Cartier, MB. She lived to see nine grandchildren: William, Noah, Richard, Victoria, Eric, Raine, Katherine, Lake, and Matthew - and had a special place in her heart for each one of them. Also remaining to cherish her memory are her five siblings - Marlene (Bernie) of Toronto, Joyce (Gord) of Toronto, Roselind of Toronto, Joan (Tom) of Richmond, BC, and only brother Peter (Val) of Richmond, BC. Also, numerous nieces and nephews, Michael, Suzanne, Darrell (Alyssa), Christina, Catherine (predeceased), Andrew and Jacob.

Upon imminent passing into internal life, our mother expressed her wishes to forgive anyone who has ever done her wrong and asked us to forgive her for anything she has done or said during her life to offend or hurt anyone.

Prayers will be said on Thursday, January 25, 2024, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Holy Family Ukrainian Catholic Church, 1001 Grant Avenue. Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, January 26, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. also at Holy Family Ukrainian Catholic Church. Following the service, the interment will be held at Chapel Lawn Cemetery, 4000 Portage Avenue.

May her soul rest in peace with the Lord.

VICHNAYA PAM ' YAT (Eternal Memory)

Chapel Lawn Funeral Home

204-885-9715

Tribute Link: www.chapellawn.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 25, 2024, Jan 25, 2024