Obituary of Anne Effie Kowalyshyn

KOWALYSHYN, Anne Effie – Thursday, May 13, 2010, on the Feast of the Ascension, Anne [Baran], beloved wife of John [†2009], dear mother of Patricia, Nadia, Darusia [Rob] and Paul [Sandi] died unexpectedly at the age of “29 and holding”. Extended family Krystyna Campbell and her sons, Stephen [Kim], Nikolai [Danielle] and Gregory [Heather], and their children share our loss. Anne was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on January 22, 1932 to “second wave” immigrants Evdokia [†1993] and Stephan [†1981] Baran, who hailed from Ternopil in western Ukraine. Personally affected by the struggle for Ukrainian independence during the Russian Civil War, her parents were instrumental in establishing the Ukrainian National Federation which, as early as 1932, supported the idea of an independent Ukrainian republic. Young “Baranka” joined the Ukrainian National Youth Federation [MUNO] and participated in summer courses [vyshchi osvitni kursy] where, as a protégé of Vasyly Avramenko, she discovered her love of dance. During the MUNO years, Anne made life-long friends [kumy] and met her future husband and partner for life, John. Anne and John were crowned in marriage at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Catholic Church and began their family in Winnipeg’s north end. After several years, they moved “out east”, first to Toronto, where they completed their family, and finally to Sarnia, where they raised their family. In 1965, they purchased the one-hundred-year-old Balmoral Hotel/Tavern in Point Edward. It remained a family-operated business for forty-five years. Together, Anne and John also owned and operated Goliger’s Travel in downtown Sarnia. Whether in Winnipeg, Toronto or Sarnia, Anne shared passion for Ukrainian dance with parish youth, many of whom went on to teach further afield. At St. George’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, Anne was president of the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League of Canada for multiple terms. In her community-at-large, Anne served in various capacities with the Breast Cancer Society (and appeared in 2 television documentaries about breast cancer survivors), the Canadian Cancer Society, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the I.O.D.E., the International Women’s Symphony of Sarnia and Port Huron, the Multiple Sclerosis Society and St. Joseph’s Hospital Auxiliary. Anne also served as a folk arts co-ordinator for the city of Sarnia and was appointed to serve on the Ontario Advisory Council on Multiculturism. Anne led an active life, supported her husband in all business ventures, was his staunch political supporter and devoted companion. She loved her children with all her heart and, in her “free time” could be found in the company of the family cats, Kasha and Zoe, and puttering in her garden. Anne will be fondly remembered for her great sense of humour, her selection of colourful shoes, and her overall zest for life. She truly was “one of a kind”. Please join our family from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. and 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. Monday, May 17 for visitation at McKENZIE & BLUNDY FUNERAL HOME, 431 Christina Street North. Panakhyda [brief memorial service] will be sung at 8:00 p.m. for the repose of the soul of our mother. Funeral services will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 18 at St. George’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, 1045 Rosedale Avenue, Sarnia, with interment to follow at Our Lady of Mercy Cemetery. Give rest O Lord, to the soul of your servant Anne. Vichnaya Pamyat’. As an expression of sympathy, friends may elect to send memorial donations to: St. George’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, 1045 Rosedale Avenue, Sarnia, N7S 1Z5, the Breast Cancer Society, 420 East Street North, Sarnia, N7T 6Y5, or the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, 10 – 155 North Front Street, Sarnia, N7T 7V5. Messages of condolence & memories may be left at www.mckenzieblundy.com. A tree will be planted in memory of Anne Kowalyshyn in the McKenzie & Blundy Memorial Forest. Dedication service Sunday, September 19th, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at the Wawanosh Wetlands Conservation Area.