PYLYPOW: In Loving Memory of Catherine “Katie” Pylypow , age 102, born January 28, 1914 in Ulychne, Drohobycz, Austria (Ukraine). Passed away May 20, 2016 near Glaslyn, SK.

Katie was born January 28, 1914 in Ulychne, Drohobycz, Ukraine to parents Dmytro and Ksenia Syrwatka.

With rumours of impending war in Europe, the decision to come to Canada was made by her parents. So a group of family members consisting of Katie’s grandparents, Onufry and Eva Kuziw, their 3 unmarried daughters, Katie’s parents, Ksenia and Dmytro  Syrwatka, along with their three little children, including baby Katie, set sail for Canada on the steamship, S.S. Pallanza, on the 12th of June 1914. They arrived in Quebec City on the 30th of June, 1914 just a few weeks before the outbreak of World War I. The group travelled across Canada by train to Battleford, Saskatchewan, then by horse-drawn wagon to the homes of relatives who were already settled in the Glaslyn district. The Kuziws and Syrwatkas filed for homesteads and settled just east of the present village of Glaslyn. The Glaslyn district was home then for Katie for one month short of 102 years.

Katie attended school at the first Glaslyn Rural school, completing her grade six before quitting to help out at home and work for the neighbor lady who had a young family. At age 13 she got a job at the Glaslyn hotel doing dishwashing and laundry. Later she worked on a farm in the Mervin district until her mother had her brought home where she didn’t have to work so hard!

As a child, Katie attended the Orthodox church at Wolia. In later years, she and her husband Matt lived on their farm one mile east of the Wolia church, hall, and school. Katie remained an active member of the church for the rest of her days.

On November 16, 1930, Katie married Matt Pylypow. Together they had six boys and five girls. Their fourth child, a son, died at age three months. In their first years of marriage, Katie and Matt and their growing family moved around to different places in the Glaslyn district before settling down on their own farm 3 ½ miles SW of Glaslyn in 1935.

Katie lead a very busy life doing all the typical things a mother does, such as growing a big garden and preserving food for their large family, baking large batches of bread, washing mountains of laundry, and tending to the barnyard chores.

Katie was a kind and compassionate lady. She had lost her own mother as a 25 year old and her father had suffered from strokes which left him handicapped. In 1946, when she had  8 children of her own, she brought her father into their home to live with them. There were then 11 people living in their tiny house. Katie cared for him for 15 years until he passed away when Katie was 47 years old.

By 1966, Katie and Matt no longer had family living at home. The two of them worked together on the farm with Katie hauling grain for Matt in the fall and helping to look after their herd of pigs. They retired from the farm in 1977, moving into the Village of Glaslyn, just down the street from the Orthodox church which had been moved from Wolia in the 1960’s.

Retirement allowed Katie more time for things she enjoyed such as quilting and gardening. They made annual trips to faraway places for a few years. However, the most important thing in Katie’s life was her family. She was happiest when surrounded by a houseful of people. She anxiously awaited the arrival of each grandchild and had the ability to remember all their birthdays. This was no small feat as the grandchildren numbered 25, the great grandchildren numbered 64, and at the time of Katie’s passing, she had 17 great-great grandchildren.

Katie’s husband Matt passed away on May 7, 1997. Katie remained in her own house in town, but frequently visited her children in various places for extended stays. She lived in her own house and with the assistance of her children, she was able to keep it until she was 100 years old.

Katie suffered a stroke in November of 2012. After that she did not live alone. She moved to rural North Battleford to live with her daughter Doreen McNabb and her husband Lawrence for one year, then moved to Carnaby Acres, a brand new personal care home one mile south of Glaslyn, where she lived for one year. Last December, Katie became very ill, and though she recovered somewhat, she required more care so she moved to the residence of her grandson Leigh and his wife Louise where she was lovingly cared for by family members and friends until her passing on May 20, 2016.

Left to cherish Katie’s memory are her sons and daughters: Fred (Marj), Don (Phyllis), Lillian (Jim) Cheyne,  Bob (Sheila), Leonard (Helen), Sylvia Dmytryshyn, Doreen (Lawrence) McNabb, Pat (Bob) Stuart, and son-in-law, Vince Moreau. Grandchildren: Matthew (Sheryl) Pylypow, Jim (Wendy) Pylypow, Michelle (Gerald) Waterhouse, Carla (Cam) Mandel, Laura (Rod) Jensen, Donna Cheyne, Colleen (Mike) Banning, Ken (Paula Zafiris) Moreau, Joanne (John) Dathan, Paul (Samantha) Moreau, Patricia (Steve) Blundon, Dean (Penny) Pylypow, Brad (Cindy) Pylypow, Curt (Carolanne) Pylypow, Kevin (Michelle Buglas) Pylypow, Laurie (Mark) Dmytryshyn, Trent (Kandice) Pylypow, Barb Dmytryshyn, Duane (Laurie) Dmytryshyn, Fran (Phil) Thevenot, Dawn (Phil) Beaudry, Camille (Rob) Parkman, Aaron (Deb) McNabb, Leigh (Louise) Stuart, April (Darren) Wouters. 64 Great-grandchildren and 17 Great-great grandchildren. Sister Mary Sawyer and sisters-in-law Katie Prokop and Mary Laird, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Katie was predeceased by her husband Matt (1997), son: Allan (1935), son: William (1959) his wife Dorothy (1975) and their daughter Margaret (1968), daughter: Violet (2006). Parents: Ksenia Syrwatka (1939) and Dmytro Syrwatka (1961). Siblings: Mike Syrwatka (1986), Annie Pilat (1999), John Sawyer (2012), Nellie Laycock (1997), Doris Jackson (2014), Rose Brown (2005), Peter Syrwatka (1944), Polly Syrwatka (1927) Steve Sawyer (2015). All her Pylypow brothers-in-law: Nick, Wilfred, John, Alex, Peter, Steve, and William, and sister-in-law Annie Pylypow.

Celebration of life and remembrance was held on Friday, May 27, 2016 at 11:00 am in the Glaslyn Community Hall with the Very Rev. Bohdan Demczuk of the Ukrainian Orthodox church officiating. Cross Bearer was Mark Metrunec.  Cantor was Jim Shevchuk. Altar Server was George Hawrylow. Eulogy was given by Curt Pylypow, Trent Pylypow and Leigh Stuart. Honour Guard was all of Katie’s grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren. Honourary Pallbearers were Mary Sawyer, Katie Prokop, Mary Laird, Walter Pilat, John Pilat, and Dale Laycock. Active Pallbearers were Matthew Pylypow, Jim Pylypow, Dean Pylypow, Paul Moreau, Duane Dmytryshyn, and Aaron McNabb.

Memorial Doantions are requested to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or a charity of the Donor’s choice.

Interment was at the Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery of St. Peter and St. Paul (Wolia) – Glaslyn, SK.

 

No Other Love Like Mother’s Love

A Mother’s love is something that no one can explain

It is made of deep devotion and of sacrifice and pain

It is endless, unselfish, and enduring come what may

For nothing can destroy it or take that love away….

It is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking

It never fails or falters even though the heart is breaking

It believes beyond believing when the world around condemns

It glows with all the beauty of the rarest, brightest gems….

It is far beyond defining; it defies all explanation

It still remains a secret like the mysteries of creation….

A many splendoured miracle man cannot understand

Another wondrous evidence of God’s tender guiding hand

 

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the staff of Sallows and McDonald-Wilson and Zehner Funeral Home, www.sallowsandmcdonald.com 306-445-2418

• Date : 2016-05-20
• Location : Glaslyn, Saskatchewan