Mrs. Vera Stefaniuk

Obituary

Vera was born on October 2, 1921 in Lyman, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine to the family of Fedor and Wasylena (Chischkala) Dubeyko. Vera was the youngest of three children; she had a brother, Andrij, and sister, Klavdia. Vera’s father and brother worked on the combines, and tragically died when she was a small child. Klavdia married and moved to Kharkiv.

Vera’s younger life was challenging. As a small child, she endured great hardship during Holodomor in Soviet Ukraine. Her mother worked to ensure their survival during this period of great man-made suffering. A video detailing her individual experience can be found on the Holodomor survivors website (Canada). Sadly, Vera was left to live on her own at the age of fourteen when her mother suffered an untimely death.

The onset of World War II brought new challenges to life in Ukraine; during this time Vera worked as a nurse to assist in the war efforts. With the return of Soviet terror to Ukraine she fled to Germany and found her way to the Displaced Persons camps, along with millions of other Ukrainian refugees. From here she was hired by the Rastings Family, as a housekeeper and cook. While in Germany, Vera met her future Husband, Ivan, and they were soon married. The Rastings Family had no children of their own and took very fondly to both Vera and Ivan, treating them as their own children.

After the end of the war, Ivan and Vera no longer felt it was safe to remain in Germany. As a result, the Rastings Family aided in their departure from Germany (paying for their voyage) to Halifax en route to Ottawa. Vera and Ivan were very excited to have found a new life in Canada, filled with many new opportunities. During this time Ivan travelled to Toronto where he found many of his relatives living, and in 1953 Vera and Ivan relocated to Toronto where they settled amongst family.

Together Vera and Ivan raised two children, Halyna and Petro, whom they instilled and shared their love for Ukrainian heritage, culture, and traditions. Vera and Ivan worked tirelessly in order to ensure they were able to give their children every opportunity possible including post secondary education, a value and opportunity they were not afforded due to times of war.

Ivan, Vera’s beloved Husband passed away on May 17, 1988. Even as Vera’s health declined, she maintained a positive, cheerful spirit and was always grateful for, and looked forward to family visits. Vera was an unbelievably strong woman who worked tirelessly and selflessly for her family. Even in her final days she continually expressed her love and feelings of pride for her children and grandchildren.

Vera passed away on Friday, April 10th, 2020 at the Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre in Toronto. Vera leaves behind her Daughter Halyna and son-in-law Ron, her son Petro and daughter-in-law Barbara. Vera was blessed with four grandchildren, Krista (her Husband Matthew) and Karina, daughters of Ron and Halyna Hilferink; Nykola and Alexander, sons of Petro and Barbara Stefaniuk. Vera’s love, strength, and kind words will be remembered and greatly missed. Thankfully her family is comforted by these very fond memories of her.

Due to the unfortunate times we are in with COVID-19 restrictions, and to ensure everyone’s safety, there will be no viewing. Her family will lay her to rest in a private ceremony at Park Lawn Cemetery, next to her beloved Husband, Ivan. There will be a memorial mass and celebration of life at a later date when our world is a safer place. The family kindly requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in support of the Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre, https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/124076555RR0001-st-demetrius-ukrainian-catholic-development-corporation/ (please specify: Program Development of Residents in memory of Vera Stefaniuk).

The family would like to thank all the staff at the UCCC who provided Vera with such excellent, kind and compassionate care while providing support for her family as well.

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