Ms. Helen Negrych

Obituary

Love was born April 3, 1933, in Dauphin Manitoba to Nykola and Natalka Negrych who themselves were recent pioneer immigrants to Canada.

Love was one of three sisters and is survived by Sylvia and her fraternal twin Hope, as well as extended family and relatives in Canada and Ukraine.

Despite living a difficult and challenging life on a pioneer homestead, Love early on developed a lifelong interest in learning, and was determined to seek a post secondary education.  In university Love studied Fine Arts and Library Sciences, attaining several degrees including a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Manitoba, as well as a degree in Library Sciences.

Love worked her entire career as a Reference Librarian at the University of Manitoba, first in the medical library, and towards the end of her career at the architecture library.

Love had many lifelong passions.  One of these was art.  Love was an accomplished painter and created a sizeable portfolio of work throughout her life, including several religious icons, a passion she developed later in life.

Another passion was books.  Love’s eclectic collections of books on subjects from art, painting, history, cooking, Ukraine and many others, is extensive.  Her entire home was arranged like a library, with shelves and stacks of books everywhere.

Love also loved flowers and anything growing/living.  Love would plant flowers every spring and take great pleasure in watching them grow throughout the summer.  She loved animals and was always feeding the local birds, squirrels and often anything else that might cross her path in the yard looking for a handout.

Above all others, Love was deeply passionate about Ukrainian culture and traditions.  Love was a staunch Ukrainian Patriot, donating time and funding to various community organizations over her life.  Love was greatly saddened by the current war in Ukraine, and over the last few years she donated significantly to various charities and organizations dedicated to assisting Ukraine, the Ukrainian people and the armed forces of Ukraine.

Love was a staunch Ukrainian Patriot, donating her time and funding to various community organizations over her life.  Love was greatly saddened by the current war in Ukraine, and over the last few years of her life she donated significantly to various charities and organizations dedicated to assisting Ukraine, the Ukrainian people and the armed forces of Ukraine.

Love was blessed to live much of her life with relatively few health complications.  This changed in 2025 when she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, and again in early 2026 when it was discovered she had a very atypical and aggressive form of lung cancer, despite never having smoked in her life.  Fighting both maladies together proved to be too great a challenge, and after fighting for life for more than six months, Love passed away at the Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre, on the morning of June 14, 2026.

Love had a strong zest for life and often said she wanted to live to be 100 so she could finish reading all her books.  She remained strong and brave with a powerful and admirable will to live, right up until her final moments.  Love’s mental faculties remained capable and aware, despite her failing body.

Love is deeply missed and will be fondly remembered by her family - sisters, cousins, nephew, neighbours, friends, family in Ukraine and acquaintances who will mourn her passing.  Love will live forever in our hearts, prayers, thoughts, memories and in the works of art she left behind.

Vichnaya Pamyat dear Love!  Rest in Peace.  Вічная Пам’ять.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Love’s name to St. Demetrius the Great Martyr Church, the Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre, any Ukrainian organizations and charities helping Ukraine, or the Armed Forces of Ukraine, would be appreciated.

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