Olga (10 page)

Two books were compiled as a tribute to our legacy. A book of short concise individual family histories was assembled to document births, marriages, deaths and personal stories. A
cookbook preserving favorite family recipes was collected and it still stands today as a “go-to bible” in the kitchens of many family and
friends.

The family is proud of Olga’s success, adventures and see her enthusiasm and inspiration as a guiding torch for future
generations.

My daughters Nadine, Lynda, and her husband Richard attended the reunion. Lynda reminisced about summer holidays with her cousins on the
farm.

Some of my happiest memories include spending summer vacations on the Gutiw and Chomyn farms. I recall walking and calling for the cows at 3 o’clock in the afternoon (trying to avoid the cow pies), secretly smoking cigarettes with cousin Mary Jane Gutiw in the abandoned car in the pasture, attempting to milk the cows (I don’t think I ever got the hang of it), picking
mushrooms, making noodles for chicken noodle soup, playing hide and seek in the yard after it got dark, running to the outhouse in the middle of the night, and having to wake up bright and early in the morning to do chores all over
again.

I also recall a specific incident on the Gutiw farm involving my sister, Nadine, and a cow called Eugenia. Eating a meal at the Gutiw farm was a sight to behold: people and food
everywhere.

Then I remember walking along the railway track to school in Carpenter, Saskatchewan with cousin Jerry. I remember watching through a crack in the barn wall as Uncle Matt Chomyn and Jerry helped deliver a calf. I remember stooking bales and helping to harvest rape seed. I remember Jerry trying in vain to teach me the difference between wheat, barley and oats, and I’m still not sure how many acres there are in a quarter (or is it the other way around?). I still can’t figure out how the rocks come back every year to the fields after we had spent so much
time the year before getting rid of them. I cherish these memories and hope that one day my children will be able to experience some of these wonderful
times.

I was the first of my ten siblings to leave a marriage. Although I knew in my heart that I had made the right choice, being a single parent was a difficult experience. Women of my generation were resigned to married life, for better or for worse, ‘til death do us part. Someone asked me what would have happened if I had stayed married to John and, truthfully I think, as a battered wife, I would be dead by
now.

When I arrived in New Westminster as a young 34-year-old mother, I realized that my children needed spiritual, social, and moral nurturing. The best way I knew to provide for them was by associating with the church
community.

At Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in New Westminster, I became one of the founding members. I helped preserve and develop the Ukrainian language and culture by conducting Ukrainian lessons through speaking, writing, reading, and singing as well as Easter egg writing, cross-stitch embroidery, and Ukrainian
dance.

In 1956, I joined the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League of Canada (UCWLC) New Westminster
Branch.

The UCWLC mission statement proclaims that the church aims
to:

Foster a comprehensive understanding of our Ukrainian Catholic religious and cultural
heritage;

Enrich its members’ dedication to social justice and
spirituality;

Support its members toward the goal of fulfilling their role in the church and society;
and

Nurture an environment that recognizes the family as the basic unit of
society.

This group of committed UCLWC members works diligently to maintain a strong spiritual and cultural identity in the rich fabric of the Canadian experience as well as provide charitable support to organizations in Ukraine. In 1989, after Ukraine gained independence, the economy remained poor, and there was dire need on behalf of orphans and the
elderly.

The icon I painted for Holy Eucharist Cathedral in New
Westminster.

In over 50 years of being a UCWLC member, I contributed to the organization, our church, community, children and youth in any way that I could: Branch President (1969), Corresponding Secretary UCWLC Eparchial Executive (1974), UCWLC Eparchial President (1984-86), Vice-President and Chairperson Public Relations (1986-89), and member on numerous other various committees. I helped with fundraising projects, took part in a Candlelight Walk and Ecumenical Prayer vigils at an abortion clinic, and compiled slides and articles regarding our spiritual and cultural traditions in our
Eparchy.

In 1969, I painted an 8’x 8’ icon for Holy Eucharist cathedral which hung behind the altar on the Sanctuary Wall for many years. A new Eparchy was formed in 1977, and I took on a number of tasks to help build the framework of a new UCWLC Eparchial Executive in
B.C.

I was invited to accompany the late Rev. Bishop Jerome Chimy, OSBM and Sister Jerome to Curitiba, Brazil to celebrate three historic religious events. The hospitality of the Ukrainian people in Brazil was
overwhelming.

One very sublime encounter with local children made me believe that innocence is bliss. Seven happy youngsters were on their way to grandma’s place one calm peaceful Saturday morning. Each carried a bag. As we became more acquainted, I asked one boy what was in his bag. As if on cue, a rooster head popped out of his bag. “Tomorrow we will celebrate my 10th birthday with a delicious dinner,” he replied with great anticipation. There have to be many rewards in such a vibrant community as in Curitibo,
Brazil.

On one of my later journeys to Europe, I joined a tour to Medjugore, historically the place where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to a group of children. During the liturgy, Father Isadore realized there was no spoon available to serve Holy Communion. In my purse, I had a ring of small tools: scissors, file, clippers, and a spoon. We were so thankful that we could continue with the service and receive Holy Communion with my little spoon. It remains now as a relic in the chapel in
Medjugore.

In 1988 a celebration of the Millennium of Christianity in Ukraine was held in Rome at the Vatican. Joint Ukrainian church choirs from B.C. and Alberta responded in the Holy Liturgy celebration with His Holiness Pope John Paul II at the Basilica. The most poignant moment was the singing of “The Lord’s Prayer” by one of our church choir members. During the pope’s visit to Vancouver, I received Holy Eucharist from the hands of Pope John Paul II. It is a precious
memory.

In 1984, I co-authored, with my UCWLC colleague, Yaroslava Tatarniuk,
The Ukrainian Traditional and Modern Cuisine Cookbook
. This 140-page cookbook was dedicated in honour of the 40th anniversary of the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League in Canada and the 10th anniversary of the Eparchy of New Westminster. It proved to be very popular and has had four reprints. Sales of the cookbook have raised over
$60,000.

Initially the money was to be used to build an eparchial museum, but that was not feasible because the Eparchy had no property or money for a building. Bishop Severian Yakymyshyn then suggested that a contribution be made towards an Iconostas that would be installed in the Holy Eucharist Cathedral in New Westminster. The Iconostas represent the holy icons of the Mother of God and other
Saints.

The cookbook committee was proud of its hard work in producing, printing, and distributing hundreds of copies of the cookbook. We were proud to be able to contribute towards the installation of Holy Icons at both our Eparchy and also in Ukraine, especially the icon of the Mother of God, Patroness of our UCWLC
organization.

My devotion and dedication to my community have never faltered, and for my 56 years of service I was bestowed with an honorary UCWLC Life Membership. In 2011, I was awarded the Nation Builders Award of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Saskatchewan Provincial Council in appreciation for many years of service in our
community.

Several times a year I join other volunteers to make 350-500 dozen pyrogies for church fundraisers. A local newspaper reporter came to watch our production line, and she exclaimed there is power behind a plate of pyrogies. I agree. These tasty morsels have funded many worthwhile projects both here in Canada and in
Ukraine.

Ukrainians enjoy a variety of cultural and religious traditions. Besides weddings, celebrations such as Easter are an important part of Ukrainian community life. For Ukrainians, Easter has a great significance because of its specific religious rites, traditional baking, and decorated Easter eggs that have artistic designs of symbolic nature. The decorated Easter eggs are called
pysanky
from the word
pysaty
, which means to write. After the introduction of Christianity, the decorated eggs became a symbol of new spiritual
life.

A selection of my decorated Easter eggs. Noris Burdeniuk
photo.

The
pysanky
are raw eggs covered with colourful geometric or plant designs symbolizing life, well-being, and abundance. Each Easter egg represents the independence and uniqueness of each human being. Also, it is a mystical metaphor: from its covered space there emerges, as from a mother’s womb, a new being that is born. So, too, from the tomb a body is called back to life again. The egg is a strong reminder that only God has the power to give
life.

I have been making
pysanky
for many years, and I love how a fragile and commonplace egg can be transformed into a new, beautiful, and unique entity. Young children and youth especially are deeply touched when their Easter egg has been completed. The
pysanky
are a tribute to the feast, a hymn in colour and design, and a fine gift to share with others. Having roots in the pre-Christian Kyivan Rus, they were adapted to Christianity and have been part of the paschal
celebrations.

A beautiful tradition maintained in the Ukrainian church tradition is the blessing of food at Easter.
Paska
is the most important Easter food and symbolizes Christ and the resurrection as it represents the bread of eternal life. Decorated with a braided wreath and a cross in the center, it is distinctly in honour of the Resurrection and a reminder of the Eucharistic bread. At Easter, the bread becomes the centerpiece, reverentially placed on a small doily-like altar linen. Christ is the guest of honour at the
table.

For Ukrainians, the most beloved and joyful festival is Christmas. Some Ukrainian Christmas customs have historical roots reaching back to the Neolithic era and are connected with the agricultural way of life of our ancestors. After the official introduction of Christianity in Rus-Ukraine in 988 by Prince Volodymyr the Great, many of these folk customs and rites have been properly adapted to the spirit of the Christian
religion.

The most important and colourful part of the Christmas tradition and festivities is Christmas Eve (
Sviat Vechir
), which revolves around the twelve-course Lenten supper. This family reunion commemorates the ancestors and the religious observance of Christmas. For the Christmas Eve supper, the table is strewn with a small handful of hay in memory of the Christ Child born in the manger, and spread over it is the best tablecloth adorned with richly decorated embroidery. The central table decoration constitutes a
kolach
(a fancy braided bread). In some parts of Ukraine, one can find just one
kolach
with a candle inserted in the centre, while in others as many as three
kolachi
are placed on top of each other, and the bottom loaf is adorned with small twigs of evergreen. The word
kolach
derives from
kolo
meaning round or circular and it is a symbol of the sun. The centerpiece of three
kolachi
represents the Holy Trinity, while the candle—the Light of the World—symbolizes the star that shone over the stable in
Bethlehem.