Mrs. Kateryna Zurakowski

Obituary

 

Katherine Zurakowski, dearest mother, beloved grandmother and great grandmother, dear aunt, and true friend.

Who was Katherine?   What is her lasting legacy?

    Born in the village of Tuzhyliv, Ivano-Frankivsk province. She grew up with her older brother Paul, and younger brother Mykola, and her youngest sister Justyna. When Kateryna was 10 years old, her father died, and when she was 14, her mother died. Thus she became an orphan without both parents. During the winter following the death of both of her parents, she became gravely ill as a result of multiple repeating visits to the cemetery, tightly grasping the cross of the monument where both her parents were buried, attempting to feel the presence of her late mother. She was found there, weak and nearly frozen by the villagers and thanks to their care she was nurtured back to health. When Kateryna turned 19 years old, she was taken as a laborer to Germany, therefore separated from her brothers and sister. In 1949 she immigrated to Canada. She settled in Quebec for the first four years. Having heard that there was a larger Ukrainian community in Toronto, she moved and settled here. With the help of the Red Cross, she was able to locate Pavlo, the son of the good family that had taken care of her in Ukraine. He was located in Argentina, and subsequently came to Canada. The young couple fell in love and was married in 1952. Together they started their family – the Good Lord blessed them with four children. Sadly, their married life was cut short after only 10 years, when Pavlo died on October 31, 1962. Kateryna became a widow, alone with four children, between the ages of two and ten – Leo, Martha, Ulana and Mychajlo. Kateryna was very religious and her faith sustained her, and prevented her from giving up. She had a great devotion to the Mother of God, and turned to her in prayer for help. The children remember her praying on her knees to the icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary, pleading Her in prayer: “I entrust my children to Your all holy and powerful Mantle”. She dedicated a lot of time to give us, her children, the best possible upbringing. It wasn’t easy, but with the help of good people that stepped up to help, all turned out well. Kateryna was a devout parishioner of our St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Parish. She was an active member of the Church and the St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League. Kateryna’s days were full and complex. She dedicated her mornings to her children and taking care of the household. In the afternoon she would run to catch the streetcar to take her to work downtown. Returning, after work, in the late evening she would begin preparations for the next day. Late at night, sitting on her bed she would embroider. When did she sleep? The children were and are at a loss to answer. Late in the night, before falling asleep they could hear her fully reciting her evening prayers. Kathryn always thought of her family back home. She would write letters and send parcels to all her family: her sister Justyna in Poland, to her brothers, and to all the family of her late husband in Ukraine. She also corresponded with her cousins in Great Britain. With her brother Mykola, she strove to help those who had even less then her. Despite her very limited financial means, she still managed to support orphans in Brazil and seminarians studying for the priesthood. She instilled in the hearts of her children a love for their family, their Church, and taught them to do good to all those around them. When Kateryna’s children married and began starting their own families, she helped them, rejoicing in her ever expanding family. She loved her grandchildren, though they were scattered throughout Canada. She nurtured them and was proud of them. In the years of her retirement she became a second mother to her grandchildren Jurchyk and Danylko. She actively participated in their upbringing – they were the joy of her life. Upon entering the final decade of her life, she became limited by her illness, and sadly, could not accomplish all that she would have liked to. It was not possible for her to visit her Church regularly. It wasn’t easy for her to tend to her garden; to plant some flowers, tomatoes, cucumbers, or her favourite garlic. It became progressively more difficult to prepare the delicious meals that she had used to do, to bake her sumptuous tortes or to make borscht. A very fond memory will remain: Just four weeks ago she still attempted to bake and freeze traditional sweet baked rolls for her family for Christmas. God’s Providence allowed Kateryna to reach the 100 year milestone in her life. She fell asleep in the Lord, peacefully, without pain, with faith, hope, love and trust in the Almighty Lord. Kateryna’s children witnessed the challenges, suffering and lack of material means that she endured. They remember her as a humble person, intelligent, one who greatly respected education and studies. She was a person of strong will, determined, with deep faith, and very generous. She nurtured and brought up her children and grandchildren not only with words, but especially by example. She will forever remain for her children a guiding light of goodness, truth and love, traits that enable us to withstand our individual trials and tribulations. The family feels truly indebted to their late mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and friend.   Now we are praying for You, and we know that You are praying for us.  

We offer a Deep Respectful bow to You 

Your Memory will be Eternal

  On behalf of all the children, Slavko with his wife Lesya, grandchildren Tania and Yevhen, Ulyana with grandchildren Yurij and Danylo, Marta with her husband Oleh and grandchildren Tamara, Mateyko along with great-granddaughter Odessa, and Orest and Laryssa, and Levko with his wife Angela with grandchildren Renata, Natalka with great-grandson Broderick, Andriyko, Ivana and Luke, we thank you in advance for your prayers when you remember our mother's departure to eternal life in heaven with God.  

Visitation

Service

Burial