Mr. Michael Halkiw

Obituary

MICHAEL HALKIW The extraordinary life of what some may call this unsung hero ended quietly and through natural causes on January 19, 2016, a few months short of his 94th birthday. Survived by his wife of almost 7 decades Anna, his younger sister Anna, his son William (Bill), daughter-in-law Brenda and his beloved grandchildren Dane and Tara. Tragically predeceased just 40 days earlier by his daughter Olya. Born on April 2, 1922 in Tershiv, Western Ukraine and endured tremendous adversity at a tumultuous time in history. Taken from his family in his teenage years to a coal mine labour camp in Bochum, Germany where he survived over 4 years of torturous labour. Liberated and immigrated to Manchester, England in 1946 where he married Anna. Immigrated to Canada in 1954 with Anna, their 6 year old daughter Olya, one suitcase and relentless determination and appreciation for freedom. Settled in the west end of Toronto where William (Bill) was born in 1956. Worked at Toronto City Works in construction for 6 years and thereafter at McDonnell-Douglas Aircraft for almost 25 years. Hardwired to endure adversity and appreciative of everything around him, there was nothing that this man could not build, create or repair by ingenuity and natural instinct and no one that this man would not lend a helping hand to. His incredible code of ethics and quiet philanthropic philosophy will never be forgotten, and his genre is truly that of a dying breed. Visitation at Cardinal Funeral Home on 92 Annette Street in Toronto on Friday, January 22, 2016 from 5 to 8 p.m., with Ukrainian prayer service at 7:30 p.m. Funeral Mass to be held at St. Demetrius Ukrainian Church on 135 La Rose Avenue in Etobicoke at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 23rd with burial and reception to follow at St. Volodymyr Cemetery in Oakville. In lieu of flowers, donations are welcome for the Guardian Angels Ukraine Project . lucw.ca/guardian-angels.html

Visitation

Service

Burial / Entombment / Cremation