Mrs. Nadia Danylchenko

Obituary

With heavy hearts, the family of Nadia Danylchenko, age 91, announce her unexpected passing on January 31, 2024 at Victoria Hospital, London Ontario. It is quite possible she died of a broken heart, mourning the loss of her husband of 71 years who predeceased her by less than four months. She was born Nadia Bozdek in Poltava, Ukraine on October 25, 1932 to Wasyl and Anna Bozdek (nee Pishnenko). Her parents’ assets were seized by the Soviets during collectivization. In 1943, as masses of people fled Ukraine from a second wave of Soviet occupation, Nadia was forced to interrupt her schooling and leave home with her parents and siblings. They ended up in Berlin, Germany, living there in a displaced persons camp for two years. Then in 1945, they were forced once again to flee as the Soviets advanced further west. Finally, after six years as displaced persons, the family immigrated to Canada in 1949, settling in Chalk River, Ontario where Nadia’s father worked in construction on the nuclear power station there. In 1950, the family moved to Toronto and opened a restaurant on Queen Street West where she worked as a waitress. One of the regulars at the restaurant was another recent immigrant from Ukraine, Ivan Danylchenko. They fell in love and were married in 1952. The marriage lasted 71 years until Ivan’s passing in October 2023. They had two sons, Gregory (1953) and Victor (1957). A gentle and selfless soul, Nadia was a supportive wife, a kind and loving mother to her boys and an adoring grandmother to her two granddaughters. She found her calling as a homemaker. An excellent cook, Nadia prepared every meal from scratch. Her cabbage rolls, perogies, plum cake, borsch—in fact, any soup she made—were all unsurpassed. Without the benefit of formal knowledge of Canada’s Food Guide, she seemed to match its recommended nutrition and variety just by instinct. For many years, the food was sourced from the large vegetable and fruit garden that she grew annually at the family home on Indian Road in Mississauga, and later at their farm in London. Together with Ivan, she passed along an appreciation for Ukrainian culture to her sons. She supported her husband in his many endeavours for the benefit of the Ukrainian community and church in Toronto and London. She leaves behind many items of intricate Ukrainian embroidery that her family will cherish. Always industrious, Nadia also worked outside the home when the boys got older, at Eaton’s Toronto and London, and later, after retirement, as a full-time caregiver to her granddaughters, Tamara and Alexa. The family was saddened when Nadia received a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. For the last twenty years of her life, she endured its ravages quietly and stoically, while still continuing to look after her household. Eventually, when she could no longer walk, she went into long-term care. Nadia is survived by her sons, Gregory (Janice Neelands) and Victor (Christina Broadbent); granddaughters, Tamara and Alexa Danylchenko (Derek Foster); sister Maria Dubyk; brother Walter Bozdek (Marta Kornijenko); and nieces, Vera and Nadia Dubyk (Duncan Marks). She was predeceased by her husband Ivan Danylchenko, parents Wasyl and Anna Bozdek, sister Zena and brother-in-law Walter Andrushenko of California; brother-in-law, Wasyl Dubyk and nephew, Matviy Bozdek, both of Toronto. Nadia’s family would particularly like to thank the staff at Glendale Crossing, her excellent long-term care residence in London, Ontario. In particular we are grateful to Taylor, Jessica, Amanda, Ruth, Rema, Ishmael and Sherry for the care and compassion they showed her. We would also like to thank Nadia’s Parkinson’s specialist, Dr. Mary Jenkins, of University Hospital in London, Ontario, for her care over many years and her support of the family during Nadia’s recent hospitalization. Thanks also to Dr. Malcolm Sherwood of Victoria Hospital in London for his kindness and understanding. Visitation will take place on Monday February 12 from 5-9 pm at the Cardinal Funeral Home (366 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Ontario) with a short religious service at 7:30 pm. The funeral will take place on Tuesday February 13 at 11 am in the chapel of St. Volodymyr Cultural Centre (1280 Dundas Street West, Oakville, Ontario) immediately followed by interment at the adjacent cemetery and reception afterwards. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation: https://www.cufoundation.ca/ May her memory be everlasting.

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