Rosailia "Rosie" (Nykolaishyn) Hawrychuk

In Loving Memory of

Rosailia “Rosie” Hawrychuk

1923 – 2014

 

Rosailia, better known as Rosie Hawrychuk, was born February 2, 1923 to the late Mike and Effie Nykolaishyn.

 

Rosie was the second eldest of eight children.  Until the early 1930’s Rosie attended Timber school, and when her family settled in the Zelena area, she continued her education at North Cliff School.

 

All of her life, Rosie was a hard worker.  She loved working outdoors on the farm with her dad and older brother Russell.

 

As a young woman, Rosie worked at the Gordon Hotel in Roblin until she married her Prince Charming in 1943, Walter Hawrychuk.  Out of their union, two children Mervin and Merna were born.

 

Rosie was a busy, hardworking woman.  How she squeezed all those things into one day is a mystery still.  She continued to work on the farm with Walter, and while raising her children, cared for her senior in law family members in her own home, without running water. Rosie made time to manage all her farm chores, which included sheep, geese, ducks, pigs, gathering eggs and milking thirteen cows to make butter to sell.

 

Rosie was a very strong, determined and independent woman.  She would tackle anything that needed to be done- from planting, harvesting and preparing gardens and crops, to raising, butchering and packaging meat or poultry.  Rosie was the family sharpshooter, and her skills with the 22 were well known.  Foxes were wary of Rosie’s farm.

 

Rosie was an incredibly generous woman.  She was generous with both her time, and with all that she had.  Rosie was an excellent cook, and put her skills to use at many of the local weddings.  She did this without pay for either her time or the garden bounty she provided.  Squeezing in a dance or two she always said, “They are a young couple and need the money and when it is good for them, it is good for us.” This was her motto.  Helping people and giving of herself was her inherent compensation by knowing that she had contributed to the present and future well being of others.

 

Memories of her hand raised, delicious roasted chicken, homemade noodles, a barrel full of sauerkraut, jars of raspberry fruit and wild strawberries spread on fresh warm baked bread, crisp pickles pulled up from the well filled many mouths. Warm wool quilts, soft feather down pillows were on many newlywed beds.

 

Rosie and Walter always hosted Ukrainian Christmas at their home. Playing cards, singing, telling stories and jokes along with heart-warming food and drinks made life good even when all of the work that needed to be done was hard.

 

Rosie and Walter stayed on the farm for over sixty-five years until the move to Roblin was necessary because of Walter’s ill health.  Once in town, her walker or her “wheels” as she called it, became her new car.  Rosie was regularly seen shopping around town with renewed independence and a perpetual smile.  

 

Her garden was very important to Rosie, and it always flourished.  Her warm generosity to share its bounty and herself will not be forgotten and was as good as a big warm hug.  Up to the day of her admission to hospital, Rosie was still looking for long green beans in the seed catalogue to plant this coming spring.

 

Like she did on the farm, Rosie welcomed visitors into her town home, providing “lunch” and coffee at any time of day.  She kept informed of the goings on in the community with daily conversations with her sisters, her granddaughter, friends and lunches with her brother Russell.

 

Rosie was a longstanding member of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Ladies Association.

 

Rosie lived independently in her own home until the final two weeks of her life.  During her time in hospital, Rosie was surrounded by family.  Joining her husband Walter, she passed away peacefully on the morning of March 31, 2014 at the Roblin District Health Centre with her daughter by her side.

 

Rosie was predeceased by her parents, Mike and Effie Nykolaishyn, husband Walter (2008); son Mervin (2006); daughter in law, Sharon (2007); one sister, Anne; one brother, Bill and four brothers in law.

 

Rosie will be remembered by her daughter Merna Turetsky (Ron); her grandchildren Jason (Jamie), Jeff (Heather), John (Melissa) and great-grandchildren: Riley, Alix, Grady, Sam, Aidan and Carter.

 

Also left to cherish their Baba and Great Baba’s memory are granddaughter Wendy (Hawrychuk) Ducharme and great-grandson, Zachary.

 

Rosie is also survived by her brother, Russell, sisters, Nellie, (Nick) Olga (Frank), Margaret, (Norman), Wilna; sister in law Margie and numerous nieces and nephews . We were fortunate to have been part of Rosie’s life, and blessed to have had Rosie in our lives. Many others knew her love and will miss her presence here with them.

 

The Funeral Service was held Saturday, April 5, 2014 at 3:00 PM from the Chapel of Nairn–Chyz Funeral Home with Rev. Fr. Brent Kuzyk officiating, assisted by the Orthodox Choir. Wendy Ducharme delivered the Eulogy. Casket Bearers were Jason Turetsky, Jeffrey Turetsky, Jonathan Turetsky Wendy Ducharme, Diane Dixon and Danny Nykolaishyn. Cross Bearer was Zachary Ducharme.  Sacristan was Russell Nykolaishyn.

 

Following the Interment Service at St. John The Baptist Orthodox Cemetery, a memorial luncheon was served by the Orthodox Ladies in the lower hall of St. John The Baptist Orthodox Church.

 

 

 

NAIRN-CHYZ FUNERAL HOME

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(204) 937-2111

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