Mrs. Halyna Nowakiwsky

Obituary

With profound sadness, the family announces that our beloved Mama, Baba and Pra-Baba passed away peacefully with family by her side at Humber River Hospital on Saturday August 4, 2018 in her 96th year. In 1984, Halyna was predeceased by her beloved husband, Roman, of 38 years.

Halyna will always be missed and remain in the hearts of her son, Orest Nowakiwsky (Iryna Kodak) Ottawa and her daughter Christine Kotowycz (Ihor) Ajax.

Halyna was very much loved by her grandchildren Dr. Mark Kotowycz (Dr. Christina Leung) Barrie with their children Andrew, Emma and Anna; Dr. Natalie Naassan (Dr. Anthony) Pickering with their children Matthew, Christopher and Emily, and Tanya Haber (Andrew) Burlington with their children Maya, Claire and Katherine.

Halyna was born in Peremyshel, Ukraine on April 4, 1923. She was the only daughter of Oleksander and Amelia Molodecky. She was predeceased by her brother Volodomyr.

Halyna pursued her artistic passion and studied at the Institute of Plastic Arts and the Academy of Fine Arts in Krakow, Poland. Her studies ended abruptly in 1943 due to the war. Halyna continued her studies in Vienna, Munich and Paris. It was at this time that Halyna and Roman met and in 1945, they married in Munich. In 1948, together with their infant son Orest, they embarked from Bremenhafen to be welcomed by Canada at Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. After living for a short time in Grimsby, Ontario, the family settled in Toronto where her daughter Christine was born.

Halyna loved her family dearly and supported her children and grandchildren through their life journeys. She was an involved and proud mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Halyna was a passionate and driven artist. Halyna specialized in oil and mixed media paintings. She was prolific: painting daily and producing thousands of works. She particularly loved landscapes, city scapes, genre scenes, still life and views of nature.  Over the last two decades, Halyna and her long-time friend Andrij Babytsch and colleague in art, who predeceased her, traveled around eastern Ontario painting landscapes, with Burleigh Falls and Holland Marsh being their favourite locations. Her work is displayed in many homes and several galleries and her work will continue to be her voice and legacy.

Halyna exhibited her work in group shows and solo exhibitions in Canada as well as the United States and Ukraine. She was an active member of the Ukrainian Association of Visual Artists of Canada, the Society of Canadian Artists and the Colour and Form Society.  Her works are treasures that will remain with us.

We would like to thank the medical staff at Humber River Hospital who took compassionate care of our mother during the last several weeks. In particular, we would like to thank Dr. Rubenzahl as well as the nursing staff from the Palliative Care Unit.

Visitation will take place on Sunday August 12, 5- 9 p.m. with Panachyda at 7:30 at Cardinal Funeral Home, 92 Annette Street.  Funeral mass will be held on Monday August 13 at 10 a.m. at St Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, 4 Bellwoods Avenue, Toronto, followed by burial at Park Lawn Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to – Ukraine Support Fund (ukrainesupportfund.org), or the Ukrainian Association of Visual Artists of Canada.

   

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