Obituary of Wasyl Rekulak

REKULAK, Wasyl Wasyl Rekulak passed away peacefully with his daughters by his side, on Sunday, August 11, 2013 at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital in his 87th year. Predeceased by his beloved wife Maria (nee Tyndyk) in 2011. They were happily married for 61 years. Survived by his sister Stephania in Ukraine, Wasyl now joins his brothers Stefan and Bohdan in God’s heavenly Kingdom. Loved and dearly missed by his daughters Lesia (Doug) Pape and Nadia (Eugene) Melnyk, and his inconsolable granddaughters Amanda, Nadia and Laryssa. Wasyl was born in Wybydiw, Ukraine. He was a veteran of World War II, serving with the Ukrainian 1st Division. Following the war, Wasyl lived in England where he met and married his beloved Maria and together they made their way to Canada in 1952 settling in Sudbury. Wasyl worked for INCO in Coniston and Copper Cliff from 1952 to 1990.Wasyl served to preserve and promote Ukrainian culture and traditions and provided a supportive role in Ukrainian community projects and numerous organizations. He was President of the Sudbury Folk Arts Council, a member of the Canadian League for the Liberation of Ukraine, Canadian Congress of Ukrainians, and a long-time parishioner of St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church. In 1990 Wasyl and Maria retired to St. Catharines to be closer to family. He was a parishioner of Sts. Cyril & Methodius Ukrainian Catholic Church and a member of the Ukrainian Men’s League of Canada. He was a kind and gentle family man who was very proud of his grandchildren’s many accomplishments. Dad had a passion for politics and his garden and loved to work with his hands. He was well read and kept up to date regarding world events, especially in Ukraine. He lived his last years at Delmanor in Richmond Hill and the family wishes to thank all the staff there, especially Jadwika, for all their help and support to him and to us. You are with Baba now and, as you wished and prayed, you were only apart for a short time! Rest now, dearest Tato, Dido; together with Baba again and forever. Family and friends will be received at the GEORGE DARTE FUNERAL CHAPEL, 585 Carlton St., St. Catharines on Thursday, August 15th from 4-7 p.m. Panachyda will be held in the funeral home on Thursday at 7 p.m. Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at Sts. Cyril & Methodius Ukrainian Catholic Church on Friday, August 16th at 10 a.m. with interment to follow at St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Cemetery in Oakville. Memorial donations to the Sts. Cyril & Methodius building fund would be appreciated by the family.