Obituary of Mary MASCIUCH

MARY MASCIUCH With great sadness, the family announces the passing of Mary Masciuch (nee Waychuk) on Monday, September 14, 2009 at the age of 91 years. Left to cherish her memory are her only daughter Elizabeth Sprague and son-in-law Daniel of Bayfield, NB; grandson Ryan Sprague and wife Ren�e and great grandson Mitchell of Moncton, NB; grandson Joshua Sprague and wife Lindsay of Ottawa, Ontario; nephew Grant Dunfield and wife Marian and family of Portage la Prairie, MB; niece Mary-Ann Lepper and husband Don and family of Winnipeg, MB; and also special friends Abe and Bonnie Thiessen and family of Nanaimo, BC. She was predeceased by her husband Constantine; her sister Anne Dunfield; her brother Walter Waychuk and parents Simeon and Catherine Waychuk. Mary was born in Brandon, MB on April 5, 1918, the youngest of three children. Mary resided in the same apartment building in Winnipeg for 38 years and made many good friends there who became part of her extended family. Family was very important and she spent many summers and Christmases in both Yukon and New Brunswick, watching her grandsons grow up. Mary graduated from Brandon Normal School in 1936 and began her teaching career in Gull Lake and many other rural Manitoba communities. She was a pioneer at a time when few women ventured into teaching and especially into the challenges of rural one-room schools. She retired from teaching after having taught at Angus McKay School in Winnipeg for approximately 22 years. She was devoted to the vocation of teaching and gave of herself fully to generations of students. Mary was constantly taking courses to upgrade her teaching skills; and also travelled extensively throughout various parts of the world. Mary was a founding member, along with her husband, of the Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Winnipeg, a member of the Lasia Ukrainian Branch of the Ukrainian Women's Association of Canada; and served on various committees of the Manitoba Teacher's Association. She will be remembered for a wonderful sense of humour and her dignity and grace in the face of hardship and illness; "one feisty woman." The family wishes to thank the relatives and friends who helped in so many ways, particularly Jean Zakaluk and Kathy Mitchell for their continuing support; Home Care and the staff of 3 West at Concordia Hospital for the wonderful care she received. Prayers will be said on Friday, September 18, 2009 at 8:30 p.m. at Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main Street. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, September 19, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, 1175 Main Street with the Very Rev. Gregory Mielnik officiating, Interment will follow in Glen Eden Memorial Gardens, 4477 Main Street. Honorary Pallbearers will be Mary-Ann Lepper, Marian Dunfield, Myrtle Wolfe, Jean Zakaluk, Kathy Mitchell, Carol Thiessen. Pallbearers will be Ryan Sprague, Joshua Sprague, Grant Dunfield, Don Lepper, Stephen Lepper, David Wolfe. At the family's request in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary's memory to Canadian Cancer Society or to a charity of one's choice.