MYS, Mykola

MYS, Mykola

MYS, Mykola Peacefully, on Sunday, November 11, 2018, Mykola passed away and began his journey into heaven to be with his wife Mary.

Mykola leaves to cherish his memory his niece Yvonne Hawryliuk (Winnipeg), and many relatives in Ukraine. He will be missed by extended family, many cousins, and friends. He is predeceased by his loving wife Mary, his parents Wasyl and Parania (Chomich) Mys, in-laws George and Madge (Leitchman) Myketa, sister-in-law Phyllis (Myketa) Hawryliuk, and brother-in-law Bob Hawryliuk.

Mykola was born in Jasionka,Turka, Poland on December 12, 1925 to Wasyl and Parania (Chomich) Mys and had 9 siblings whom he fondly remembers. He was the only one that immigrated to Canada. Mykola lived through World War II, the Great Depression, and the Holodomor. He often would share many stories about the challenges but also reminisced about happier times back in his homeland of Ukraine. At the age of 16, the German Army took him to Germany (Camp Rigo) to work as a farm labourer during the war. It was during this time that he learned the German language and remained fluent until his passing. He lived in Germany for 5 years before he immigrated to Canada in June 1947. After landing in Halifax, he sought employment and began to work in the Thunder Bay area cutting trees for the local paper industry. Once the contract was completed, he decided he did not want to work on the construction of the railway and took an opportunity to work in the steel industry (Stelco) in Hamilton. He was immediately hired on the cranes as both mechanic and operator.

Mykola met his wife, Mary, at a Ukrainian National Federation dance one Saturday night in 1948. They were married on May 6, 1950 at Holy Spirit Ukrainian Catholic Church. After over 30 years of service at Stelco at 58, my Uncle decided to retire and travel. Mykola and Mary travelled to various places including Bermuda, Hawaii, and Florida. They spent many summers at their cottage on Lake Erie.

Yvonne would like to thank the staff, nurses and doctors at the Abington Court Retirement Residence. In addition, a thank you to Beatrice Mycio, Vinh The Lam, Jeff Smith, the nurses and the careworkers for their friendship and support. An especially big thank you to Nurse Sandra who was truly an angel.

My Uncle’s last few weeks were at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. Thank you to the doctors and nurses of CTU West, the Mary Grace Wing, and Palliative Care and especially Dr. Boyle. Mary and Mykola felt it was very important to give back to their community. St. Joseph Healthcare Hamilton was always near and dear to their hearts. Their names are now located on the Garden of Grace Donor Wall at the Charlton Campus.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either the St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton Foundation or Canadian Museum for Human Rights so that his spirit will live on.

Visitation at MARKEY-DERMODY FUNERAL HOME, 1774 King Street East (at Kenilworth) on Friday from 6-8 p.m. with Panachyda at 7:30 p.m. Funeral Service at Holy Spirit Ukrainian Church, 15 St. Olga Street, on Saturday, November 17, 2018 at 10 a.m. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Vichnaya Pamyat Memory Eternal