Obituary

Stefan passed away suddenly at his home on December 15 2023 at the age of 77.

He was predeceased by his parents Roman and Daria (nee Zahajkevich).

He will be forever missed by his children Timothy and Olenka (Gabe), and his grandchildren Audrey and Jamie. He will also be missed by his brother Andrey (Marika) and their children Paul and Laryssa (Robb), as well as their grandchildren Harper and Amara. He also leaves behind cousins and extended family in Canada and abroad.

Stefan brought Ukrainian news to every home in Toronto on Multicultural TV programes:  ”Svitohliad” and Forum TV. Although he started off as a teacher; because of his love for all things Ukrainian, he found his real niche in Ukrainian journalism on these television programs winning many awards in the course of the years.

He also loved acting on stage. He started acting in drama clubs in high school and university. During that time he also joined the Ukrainian drama group “Zahrava” and has acted with them throughout his life.

His final performance was just 5 days before his passing. He participated in the group’s 70th anniversary celebrations on December 10, 2023.

May he rest in peace.

He will be remembered for being a true Ukrainian patriot. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to help the people in need during the war in Ukraine via the Canada Ukraine Foundation  or the Official Fundraising Platform of Ukraine: United24 https://u24.gov.ua/

Those unable to attend the funeral mass on Thursday can watch a live feed on this link: https://youtube.com/live/n56C50WI3EA?feature=share

 

Visitation

Date
December 20, 2023
Location
Cardinal Funeral Home-Annette Chapel
Time
05:00 PM - 08:00 PM
Memo

Panakhyda at 7:00 p.m.

Service

Date
December 21, 2023
Location
St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church
Time
10:00 AM

Burial

Date
December 21, 2023
Location
Sanctuary Park Cemetery
Time
12:00 PM
Memo

Burial Time is an Estimate

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December 20, 2023
Philip Roslin
Stefan Genyk-Berezovsky was a long time Ukrainian-Canadian media professional and an all-round nice guy. I got to know him a bit over the years through the Ukrainian media scene, Forum TV and the Spilka Journalistiv Pivnichnoyi Ameriki, but he had a long past with Svitohliad which was a Ukrainian program on OMNI. I asked him about the past shows, whether he could get copies of them for archival purposes, but he said he tried but had some difficulties finding them or something. Anyway - that is years of work news reporting and documenting the Ukrainian community in Canada which he helped to do. Maybe copies of those shows can still be found to preserve his legacy media work and also the history of the community. Once a bunch of us piled into a car together with him on a trip to Soyuzivka for a Ukrainian journalists' convention and he was there in a vyshyvanka giving his speech.
December 20, 2023
Ulana and Taras Pidzamecky
Stefan's delightful wit and warmth towards others, his commitment to Ukraine and our Ukrainian community, and his long-time professional association with our late mother, fellow journalist Vera Ke, will be forever remembered with great fondness and appreciation! As will be Stefan's fine performances in Zahrava Theatre, which in its early days was directed by our late grandfather, Lawro Kempe - another connection between our families that we cherish and will remember. May God's immeasurable love companion family and friends throughout this sad time and as time goes on. Vichnaya Pamyat! Ulana and Taras Pidzamecky
December 19, 2023
Mary
He was a sweet soul. Vichnaya Pamyat
December 19, 2023
RAYMOND MILESKI
Stefan's is an amazing success story, I'm proud he and Andrey are my family. He continued to be so grateful for my parent's hospitality when his family arrived, and I imagine how proud his father felt as Stefan grew into an iconic community resource to the entire Ukrainian fact here. He gave himself and we could expect no more, he has earned his rest.
December 18, 2023
Darka Evtushenko
Dear Family, Stefan and I went to Ukrainian school together and Plast. I think I was named after his Mother, a close friend of my father’s from back home still. She directed him to the right train to escape during the war. Stefan was an icon on stage as well as in our community. He left us too soon. May he Rest in Peace. Darka and the Evtushenko family
December 18, 2023
George Rewa MD
Vichanaya Pamyat Oksana and George Rewa
December 18, 2023
Marcella Neely
Dear loved ones I am so sorry for the loss of father, grandfather, brother, extended family and friends. I fondly remember "Stefco" when he first arrived with his parents at our house in Grimsby. They had just arrived in Canada. Little Stefan had his "Medyo" strapped to his back and was carrying a tiny satchel filled with polish candy. They stayed with our family for while before finding their comfort zone in Toronto. We kept in touch over the years and I have always been proud of his zest for life and his many accomplishments. Rest in peace,cousin Marcella (mileski) Neely