Obituary of Irene Balahura

BALAHURA, Irene After a short battle with cancer and kidney failure, Irene passed away peacefully on Friday, February 8th at the St. Catharines General Hospital with her loving husband and best friend Zenko by her side. She leaves behind her loving husband of 15 years Zenko. Also survived by her brother Alex (Feddy) Rybczyn and niece Stephanie Rybczyn. She was much loved by her family in England, sister in law Anna (Neil) Todd, mother in law Maria , nephew John (Lindsay) and their daughter Poppy. She was predeceased by her father Wasyl (1989) and mother Stephanie (2000). Irene was born on September 22, 1949 in Mansfield, England and lived in Bradford, England till the age of 13 when she immigrated to Toronto with her family in 1962. After leaving high school, she embarked on a career with the Ontario Government and moved up to the Ministry of Finance (after working at various other Ministries). She retired in 1999 and became an avid gardener and enjoyed the birds and other wildlife that ventured into her beautiful flowering garden. She loved animals and will be missed by her much loved cat, Georgie. Irene easily made friends both at work and the neighbourhood. When she moved to St. Catharines in June 2009, she made friends with many neighbours and joined the Parish at St. John the Theologian Ukrainian Catholic Church where she made many more friends while helping in the kitchen. Irene's family will receive visitors at the GEORGE DARTE FUNERAL CHAPEL, 585 Carlton Street, St. Catharines on Friday, February 15th from 2-4pm and 7-9pm. Divine Liturgy will be celebrated on Saturday, February 16th at St. John the Theologian Ukrainian Catholic Church, 91 Lakeshore Road at 10:30am. Panachyda will be recited in the funeral home on Friday at 7:30pm. In accordance with her wishes, cremation will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Walker Family Cancer Centre would be appreciated by the family.