聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 The centennial of the Green Leaf Cemetery was celebrated with a special blessing of deceased family members鈥� graves on August 7. The cemetery is located 12 miles north and four miles east of Preeceville.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Rev. Michael Faryna of the Canora Greek Orthodox church blessed the cemetery and each grave. The service was followed by a barbecue lunch.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 "On behalf of all Green Leaf Cemetery committee members, I would like to thank and welcome everyone who has been able to be present here today," said Lorraine Shewchuk. "In the celebration of Green Leaf Cemetery鈥檚 100th anniversary and the blessings of our deceased families and friends, it is a privilege and honour to acknowledge the 100th anniversary of the cemetery."
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A title was obtained on February 25, 1916 for approximately two acres of land donated by Mike Antonowicz in remembrance of his invalid son, and it was to be recognized as Greenleaf Cemetery, said information from the committee. It was named Green Leaf because of the natural leaf, tree-filled boundaries bordering the three-sided property.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Green Leaf Cemetery was without a church until 1939 when the first committee of Mike Antonowicz, Nicolia Tome and John Boychuk formed and made the decision to start the building of 鈥淭he Rusally Greek Orthodox Congregational Church."
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 With the help of many volunteers the construction began on 1941. Numerous events, such as house dances, pie socials, Ukrainian Christmas carolling and New Year's Eve events were held to raise money for finishing expenses on the church. The church was finally completed in 1943 with the first service held on July 12, 1943, officiated by Rev. Tokariuk.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 "The church鈥檚 final service was a funeral service held for Mary Mastrachuk in July 1966,鈥� Shewchuk said. 鈥淪ince its closure the building has been vandalized, losing the chandeliers and many pieces of interior furnishings.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A new committee was formed in 1980 to care for the church and cemetery, she said. Many volunteers helped maintain the cemetery yard. In 1991, under the supervision of Raymond Blender, the gate was created and in 1992, under the supervision of Fred Panchuik and other volunteers, the fence that surrounds the grounds was built.聽
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The church roof was re-shingled and painted in 1994. The exterior of the church was repaired and repainted in 2011.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 "Many of our pioneer past members, whether they were family or friends, are resting in peace at Green Leaf Cemetery. May God bless them all for all their hard work, efforts, love and dedication put into Green Leaf Cemetery,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he cemetery is a landmark proudly around for 100 years and hopefully many more years in the future.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A plaque was constructed to commemorate the 100th anniversary.
