ANNA SYCH (BERKO)

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

ANNA SYCH (nee BERKO) December 5, 1906 - January 5, 2005 It is with profound and heartbreaking sorrow that we have said goodbye to our beloved Mom and Baba, Anna Sych. Anna passed away peacefully after a brief illness at the age of 98 on Wednesday, January 5, 2005, at Seven Oaks Hospital. Anna was predeceased by her beloved husband Paul; her grandparents and parents; and all of her 11 siblings. Anna is survived by her daughter Larice (Lasha); son and daughter-in-law, Russ and Marie-Rose; granddaughter Darlene (Scott Skene); and her precious little great-granddaughter Taylor. She is also survived by her husband Paul's nieces and nephews, her cousin's son, and two nieces and a nephew in the Ukraine and Poland. Anna was born in Zablotce, Jaroslaw, in the Ukraine (under Austria) on December 5, 1906, to Petro and Pelagia Berko. She was the middle child of 12 children. She endured many hardships as a young child, living in poverty and experiencing horrific, traumatic events during The First World War. Anna immigrated to Canada in August 1927. She met her husband Paul, they were married on February 7, 1931, and their son, Russ was born a year later. The family struggled greatly through the Depression era. Their second child, Larice was born years later, once life had improved somewhat. The family moved to Anna's present home, which she loved so much, in 1950. From an early age, Anna was a very talented person, excelling in sewing, beadwork, knitting, crocheting and numerous other crafts. Her garden and flowers were awesome. She was a fabulous cook and we are fortunate to have her wonderful recipes. Anna was employed at several different jobs, but her major, long-term occupation was as a highly respected seamstress at Diane's Wedding Gowns. The greatest gift of all that Anna had was being a loving, caring, wonderful Mother and Baba, as well as a loyal, trusted friend to many. We will miss her more than words can ever express. Anna was a lifelong member of St. Mary the Protectress Sobor and her faith never faltered through the years. She also really enjoyed the Holy Family Nursing Home Adult Day Program for many years, and had very special emotional connections with a number of people there. The family wishes to express our heartfelt thanks to the following very special people who made Anna's life more meaningful; from Holy Family Adult Day Program - Barbara McDonald, Bozena Basarab, and Anna's very close friend, Josephine Duezeminski; to Fr. Jaroslaw Buciora, who kept in frequent contact with Anna, and to the church members who visited her; and to Anna's Homecare workers, Josie Mills and Raelene Fortney. Larice would like to express a very special, heartfelt thank you to her lifelong best friend, Sharon Slobodian whose tremendous, constant support helped her so much to survive this tragic time. Friends can pay their respects to Anna, a very special lady, at the prayers on Friday, January 14 at 7:00 p.m. at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main St. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 15 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary the Protectress Sobor, 820 Burrows Ave., with Fr. Jaroslaw Buciora officiating. Interment will follow in Glen Eden Memorial Gardens. Floral arrangements are gratefully welcomed, or donations in Anna's memory may be made to the Heart Stroke Foundation of Manitoba, 200-6 Donald St., Winnipeg, MB R3L 0K6, or the Canadian Diabetes Association, 102-310 Broadway, Winnipeg, MB R3C 0S6. VICHNAYA PAM'YAT CROPO FUNERAL CHAPEL 586-8044

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 12, 2005