Date of Birth: September 29, 1930
Date of Death: July 4, 2018
WALCHUK – Sylvia Elizabeth Marie Walchuk (nee Gregorchuk) of St. Paul Lutheran Home, Melville, Sask., wife of the late Julius Walchuk, entered her eternal rest on Wednesday, July 4, 2018 at St. Paul Lutheran Home at the age of 87 years.
Sylvia was born the fifth of six children on Sept. 29, 1930 in Melville to Michael Gregorchuk and Anastasia (Nellie) Feduk. Sylvia took all her schooling in Melville. After graduation, Sylvia worked at the Bank of Montreal in Melville.
On Oct. 12, 1950, Sylvia married Julius Walchuk and together they raised a family of six children.
She is survived by her children: Lee-Ann (Harold Ebel) and their children, Jeffrey (Krista), their children, Kenzie and Reid, Stephanie (Brad Karpan) and their daughter, Cassidy; Greg (Jill) and Kevin; Glenn (Cyndi) and their children, Brett (Nicole), Bradley (Holly), their children, Julian and Vivian, Benny; Laurel (Garth Geisler) and their children, Craig (Sarah), their children, Vaughn and Bristol, Curtis (Michelle), their children, Lucas, Jaxon, Nate; Grant (Tammie) and their children, Blake and Bree; Gerald and his children, Tyler and Tristan.
Sylvia was a stay-at-home mom and was very creative as birthdays, Halloween and school treats were made special. Her love of gardening resulted in canning and preserving enjoyed by everyone. Gardening also lead to a time of transplanting at the Hague Greenhouse.
It was a ritual to enter Sylvia’s house and head straight for the fridge to see what goodies it contained. More often then not, we were sent home with care packages of perogies, cabbage rolls and other treats. Knitting needles were never far from her chair, which lead to an assortment of baby shawls, slippers, toques, mitts and sweaters enjoyed by all. Later she took up quilting, creating beautiful quilts for children and grandchildren to treasure.
Mom was always a care giver and looked after senior relatives in her home. In the late 1970s she began working at St. Paul Lutheran Home as a special care aide.
Before social media, mom’s house was the drop-in centre to find out what everyone was up to as mom always knew. In March of 2011, mom moved to the St. Paul Lutheran Home. She was a great teaser and could give it as well as take it. Family, friends, co-workers and caregivers enjoyed sharing barbs with her. Grandchildren thought it was a great joke to call her Grandma Turkey. As one person mentioned, “Sylvia kept everyone on their toes.” Later in life, Mom developed a sweet tooth and her sons dutifully kept her stocked with treats for herself and staff at the home.
Mom was a member of St. Mary’s the Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Ladies Trainmen. It was important to mom to instill Ukrainian traditions on her children and as a result only Ukrainian Christmas and Easter were celebrated.
Sylvia was predeceased by her husband, Julius; brother, John; sister, Mary; parents, Michael and Nellie Gregorchuk; brother, William; sisters, Molly and her husband, Zenon Zadvorny, Nellie and her husband, Joseph Benedik; and numerous Walchuk in-laws.
Sylvia will be missed and forever loved by her six children, 12 grandchildren, 10-1/2 great-grandchildren; niece, Donna-Rae Zadvorny; sisters-in-law, Agnes Callow, Peggy Matewich and Rose Walchuk; numerous cousins and friends.
Prayers were held on Thursday, July 12, 2018 from the Chapel of Bailey’s Funeral Home in Melville.
The funeral service was held on Friday, July 13, 2018 from St. Mary’s the Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Church with Very Rev. Mel Slashinsky as the celebrant.
Arrangements were by Bailey’s Funeral Home, Melville.
