Stefania Paryniuk passed away peacefully on April 04, 2021 with her allowable family by her side, with the remainder nearby due to Covid.  Left to mourn are her children, Olga (Peter) Gula, Bill (MaryLou) Paryniuk, Nellie (Larry) Harvey, Myron (Donna) Paryniuk,  grandchildren Robyn, Peter (Carolynne), John (Alisa), Tamara (Jim), Timothy (Tracey), Andrew (Mariève), Nicholas, Alexis,  and great grandchildren Brenna, Allyson, Sean, Mackenzie, Hannah, Jeffrey, Johnny, Tatyana, Alessandra, Jocelyn and Amelia as well as numerous relatives residing in Ukraine. She was predeceased by her husband Pawlo and grandson Robbie .

Stefania was born in Staryava, Ukraine on August 8,1927. She was taken from her family in Ukraine in 1942 to work in Germany as a forced labourer during the Second World War. Stefania emigrated to Canada from Germany in 1949 and settled in Red Lake with her first husband, who was killed in a mining accident in 1950.  Shortly afterwards, she moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba and worked as a shop stewart in a sewing factory and later with Central Meat Products. In 1975, she married Pawlo Paryniuk and returned to Red Lake, working at West End Groceries.  In 1990 she and Pawlo moved to Kelowna, BC until 2019, later returning to Red Lake to be closer to her family.

Stefania was the most gracious host. Family and friends were very important to her and she honoured the opportunity to host them in her home and lavish them with food, drink and endless stories. She was a master seamstress and in her earlier years cross-stitched Ukrainian embroidery. This gave way to decorating Ukrainian Easter eggs with beads in her later years. She was fiercely proud of her Ukrainian heritage and culture, and she instilled this passion with her family. As part of this, she was extremely proud her family was able to maintain the Ukrainian language, which gave her endless joy.

The family wishes to express its most grateful appreciation to Dr Corco and the nursing staff of Red Lake Hospital for their care, sensitivity and kindness shown to Stefania during her final days.

Divine Liturgy in Stefania's memory will be celebrated at a later date, when she will be returned to be with Pawlo in Kelowna.  Cremation has taken place.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Stefania's memory to the Red Lake Margaret Cochenour Hospital Foundation through the Red Lake Chapel, Box 237, Red Lake, ON P0V 2M0.

Vichnaya Pamyat