Sylvia (Savelya) Kulyk, “Reposed in the Lord” on January 9th, 2017 at Battleford’s Union Hospital with her loving family by her side. Funeral Prayer Vigil was held Sunday, January 15th at 7:00 PM and the Funeral Divine Liturgy on Monday, January 16th, at 11:00 AM from All Saints Ukrainian Catholic Church. Reverend Father Ivan Nahachewsky served accompanied by Cantor Marusia Kobrynsky and members of the Church Choir. Orthodox Clergy present were Reverend Father’s Bernard, Florin, Andrey, and Paul, and Deacon Ivan all from Saskatoon. Cross Bearer was son, Eugene Kulyk. Also present was an Honour Guard from the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s Organization. Active Pallbearers were her grandson’s Jason, Joshua and Jonathon Kulyk, Jay Aloisio, Isaac Gray, and family friends Roman Waines, Lynn and Lyle Meckling. Honorary Pallbearers were all family and friends who cared and shared in her life. Interment followed in the City of North Battleford Cemetery. Sylvia Kulyk was born May 20th, 1929 to parents Wasyl (William) and Halyna (Helen) Michalowski on the homestead in the Whitkow/Hatherleigh District. Growing up on the farm prepared mom for a life of hard work and toil – neither of which were strangers to her. A strong work-ethic nurtured by her parents taught her what life on the farm was all about. Take the time to enjoy the simple things in life, more importantly, preserving the bond of family unity. She embraced every challenge with un-daunting faith, hope and love - the three greatest virtues. She attended Zoria School – a one room school house where she forged lifelong friendships. In 1948, her father bought a home in North Battleford where, together with her parents and younger brother Walter, they would begin a new chapter in their lives. Shortly thereafter she obtained employment at Notre Dame Hospital on the maternity ward where her family centered values would endear her to staff and patients alike. It was at this time that my mother met my father and after a short courtship, they were engaged to be married. Sadly her scheduled wedding was postponed as a one year “Period of Mourning” (Zhaloba) was observed following the sudden and untimely loss of her only brother Walter in 1949. In a sudden “twist of fate”, it was discovered that her maternal grandmother (whom she had never met) Henrietta Haraczaj, was alive in America. She made a special trip from New York City, with Uncle Edward (her step-son) to attend my mother and father’s wedding. Father Bohdan Bachynsky married them on April 19, 1950 in the Ukrainian National Home as there was still no church built. Mom and dad lived three years with Dido and Baba until father built their first home. It was our Alma-Mater; father and mother’s pride and joy, built on a strong foundation of faith, love and hard work. All of our childhood, school day and teenage years were lived out in that first home. Dido and Baba’s house, being only a block from our house became our second home. And our new home continued to be a safe haven to all of us. Blessed by five sons our parents instilled in us the highest values of Christian love and servitude. Our mother was the most dedicated, caring, understanding, compassionate and loving “stay-at-home mother”, selflessly sacrificing all for us, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Even if it meant returning to shift work while my father was transitioning jobs from the railway to graduating as an RPN in 1963. Mother was totally a “Martyr for the Cause”, never once complaining that the burden was too great. All of this in an effort to give us the best life possible. Mentored by her mother, mom’s hands were never idle. God blessed her with so many talents; most notably her meticulous handiwork. Her Ukrainian embroidery and petit-point pictures, knitting and crocheting graced the church, our homes and our walls, witness to the beauty of the one who created and fashioned them. Mom’s garden and flowerbeds were her pride and joy. She was the “sower” and we “reaped the harvest” of her labours. Meals and baking were all homemade and prepared. Mom loved hosting people in her home with traditional Ukrainian hospitality that, over the years cemented lifelong friendships. Her home was open to all and no one ever left her home hungry! Our Traditional Ukrainian Christmas Eve Supper – and Pascha (Easter) were celebrated first at Baba’s home and then at mom’s home the following day. How can one possibly forget these occasions of family unity around one table? Only if we forget who made them all possible, meaningful and most-memorable. That was our mother. Amidst the joy and happiness came also sorrow and grief. The untimely and tragic loss of her youngest son Edward in 1980 at 19 years of age and the repose of her husband Andrew in 2000 impacted heavily on her. Only her un-wavering faith in God coupled with the support of family and friends gave her the strength to carry on. Her mother was her steadfast anchor filling every void in her life with her all-embracing love. Not surprising then, for our mother to have been her pillar of strength and steadfast rampart in her elderly years as she was for all of our grandparents. Mother knew the meaning and significance of acknowledging everyone’s accomplishments and special occasions, be it family or friends; the weddings of her children and grandchildren, births of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, graduations, birthdays and anniversaries. She was privileged beyond measure to have been able to celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary in the warm company of family and friends. All these were cherished opportunities to give thanks to God for the many blessings bestowed on her and her family. She was an active and faithful “Servant of the Lord” in her church community as well; recognized for 48 years of devoted service to the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s Association as long as her health permitted. Her entire life was given to serving others – never once seeking the spotlight for herself; would that we may emulate her example. This is but an abbreviated tribute as we bow our heads in humble gratitude and thanksgiving to our loving Mother, Grandmother, Great-grandmother, Godmother, dearest friend and Sister in Christ for giving us all the best years of her life! May her soul be at peace in the Kingdom of Heaven where all the just repose; May her Memory be Eternal; Vichnaya Pam’yat! Sylvia leaves to mourn her sons Larry (Theresa) Kulyk of North Battleford, SK, Dennis (Elizabeth) Kulyk, Danylo Kulyk and Eugene Kulyk, all of Saskatoon, SK; grandchildren Jason (Lori) Kulyk of Moose Jaw, SK, Pamela (Jay) Aloisio of Sherwood Park, AB, Joshua Kulyk (friend Crystal) of Saskatoon, SK, Jonathon Kulyk of Lloydminster, SK, Megan Kulyk of Saskatoon, SK, Jasmine (Isaac) Gray of Saskatoon, SK, and Ashley Kulyk (fiance Mike) of Tisdale, SK; great-grandchildren Kylie, Jagger, River, Shastine, Kody, Tara, Adrian and Ava; as well as extended family. She is predeceased by her loving husband Andrew, son Edward, brother Walter (Vladimyr), father Wasyl "William" Michalowski and mother Halyna "Helen" Michalowski-Klimchuk, grandmother Henrietta Haraczaj, in-laws Michael and Theodosia (Dora) Kulyk.
Card of Thanks
The family of newly reposed Sylvia Kulyk thank all of you for your heartfelt condolences, prayers and support through this most difficult time as we bid our final earthly farewell to our beloved Mother, Grandmother and Great-grandmother. Thank-you to all her doctors: Dr. Chris Voll, Dr. James Johnson and Dr. Khurana; the BUH Emergency Response Team, the nurses and assistants on the 3rd Floor North for your compassionate and loving care. Thanks to Reverend Father Ivan Nahachewsky for his Pastoral Care and Divine Services of Healing, Funeral Vigil, Divine Liturgy and Interment. Thanks also to visiting Orthodox Clergy from Saskatoon, Reverend Father’s Bernard, Florin, Andrey and Paul and Deacon Ivan; Cantor Marusia Kobrynsky and the Church Choir; Cross Bearer; Active and Honourary Pallbearers; Honour Guard from the UCWL; Ladies from the UCWL for graciously serving the Memorial lunch and dinner; B & D Meats for catering the hot Memorial dinner; Loraine Sovyn for preparing the Memorial Kolivo (Kutia); Ann Prystupa for delivering a Tribute on behalf of the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s Organization; Danylo Kulyk for delivering a Tribute on behalf of the family; Thank you for all the sympathy cards, words of comfort, phone calls, online tributes, flowers, food donations, charitable donations and Memorial Liturgy Donations. A special thank you to Trevor Watts and staff of Eternal Memories Funeral Service for your respectful and highly professional services. And most especially thanks be to Almighty God that our prayers be acceptable for the peaceful repose of the soul of the Servant of God Sylvia, and that she will inherit her heavenly reward for the fruits of her labour. Life Eternal in the Kingdom of Heaven!
