Mrs. Micheline Lupenec

Obituary

Surrounded by family, Micheline Lupenec, passed away at Providence Healthcare in Toronto, Ontario on Friday, December 3rd, 2021 in her 95th year.

Born in Kulykiv, Ukraine in 1927, she lived her younger years with her loving grandmother, Maria Giblak, her parents Sophia and Dmytro Boyko and younger siblings Ted and Marie.  After studying in Lviv and during the start of trying times Mom travelled on through Poland, Austria, and Italy where she immigrated to Canada in 1948. She arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia and travelled to her first job in Montreal, Quebec where she worked as a nurse's aide in a hospital and then in her adventurous spirit went west to Edmonton and Winnipeg where she continued her work in caring for others. She met her husband John and they left for Ontario where they purchased a property lot and built their home in Welland, Ontario. The family of 7 children were raised here. Later, Mom then moved on to Hamiton, and finally settled in Toronto, Ontario where she has lived for the last 35 years.

Micheline was a creative and meticulous seamstress who spent many years sewing beautiful pieces for family, friends and at various fashion jobs. She celebrated and loved her Ukrainian culture, her religious beliefs, enjoying choral music and concerts, symphony, and our family's own song and dance at various gatherings. She provided delicious dinners and made the best pyrohy and mushroom sauce, borscht, honey cake and canned dill pickles. How she found the energy and time with 7 children was always a wonder to everyone.

In her later years Micheline was especially delighted to engage with neighbours in her building and listened and learned new things from everyone she met. She was kind, caring, supportive and strong willed! She dressed fashionably and started to grow her hair which she wore in two long "коси" braids. They became her signature look. She was always available to take any trips, car rides, attend community festivals, yet also liked simple visits to the beach (Lake Ontario) to just sit near the water and chat, tell tales of the old country and reminisce about her life.

She will be dearly missed by her children, Nona (David), Ilya, Roma, Sonya (John), Morris (Diane), Michael (Lydia) and Ivanka (Dean) as well as her only sister Marie and sister-in-law Joanne, niece Sonya (Kevin), nephew Bobby (Elizabeth) and her great nephew Nolan.

Grandma “Бабця” delighted in spending time with her eight grandchildren and offered wisdoms and curiosity to them. She taught them to stay true to themselves and to travel to see as much of the world as they could. We know , her "Dear" grandchildren Aliya, Ilyana (Karl) Chelsea (Steven), Jenna, Justin, Alexa, Mark and Julianna will remember her dearly and carry her strong spirit with them.

We would like to send a special thank-you and appreciation to Dr. Cynthia Whitehead and all the staff at Family Practice, Women's College Hospital for their wonderful care and support both to Mom and her family over so many years, to her personal support workers and to Providence Healthcare who were kind to her during her final days.

Visitation and funeral services will take place on Monday, December 13th, 2021 at Cardinal Funeral Home (Bathurst Chapel).  A luncheon will follow at Trident Banquet Centre YHO, 145 Evans Avenue (at Islington) south of the Gardiner Expressway. Due to social distancing and numbers please let family members know if you will join us.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Mom's memory to the Women's College Hospital Foundation in Toronto, Ontario.

Our Mother, Micheline had the warmest smile and lived her life to the fullest.  She taught us the meaning of "Family", kindness and empathy and showed her own courage and strength right up until her final hours. She indeed was an extraordinary woman whose spirit will live in our hearts forever. Eternal Memory, Вічная Пам'ять!

Visitation

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Cremation