Obituary of Parasia Iwanec

IWANEC, Parasia (nee Krysa)

Passed away peacefully at the age of 100. Beloved wife of the late Dr. Wasyl (1979), dear aunt of Dr. Lubomyr Romankiw and his daughter Halyna Kolessa and her family. She also will be missed by her nieces and nephews and extended family members.

Parasia was born in 1920 in the village of Piddubtsi near Rava-Ruska. She completed nursing (1937) and business courses (1943) in Lviv. The young couple married in 1946 and left for Canada from a Displaced Persons’ camp in 1948. While Dr. Iwanec worked as a physician in several cities, Mrs. Iwanec worked as a dental technician and seamstress but soon turned to art, to which she was devoted. After they settled in Edmonton in 1956, Parasia became a student of the well-known painter Yuliian Butsmaniuk and studied painting at the University of Alberta. She took part in the embellishment of St. Josaphat’s Cathedral and held about thirty exhibitions. Her paintings were recognized with a number of awards. She is the author of the catalogue Ukrainian Churches of Alberta (1991), which features 153 of her works. Her mission in life was to make these paintings history before the churches disappeared from the face of the earth. 

Thank you to the staff at Henley house for your care and compassion over the years. Visitation will be held at the GEORGE DARTE FUNERAL HOME, 585 Carlton St., St. Catharines, on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 from 5-7 p.m. with Panachyda at 7 p.m. Divine Liturgy will be held at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church, 14 Rolls Ave., St. Catharines at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, December 23, 2020. Burial will follow at Victoria Lawn Cemetery. Donations may be made to St Josaphat’s Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral, 10825  97 St NW, Edmonton, AB, T5H 2M4.

As per the Province of Ontario Covid-19 regulations - visitation attendance is limited to 30% building capacity and funeral attendance is limited to 45 guests. All guests attending the visitation and funeral must bring a mask and must call the funeral home to make an appointment, (905)-937-4444.