Date of Birth: November 29, 1930
Date of Death: April 24, 2026
The family of Eileen Hnatuik of Yorkton and formerly of the Insinger district, beloved wife of the late Nick Hnatuik, sadly announce her passing on Friday, April 24, 2026. Eileen (Lessak) Hnatuik was born Nov. 29, 1930 on the family farm in the Insinger district. Eileen was the second oldest of a family of six born to George and Mary (Essar) Lessak. She attended the War End school in the Insinger district. Eileen married Nick Hnatuik on Oct. 21, 1951 at the Westbrook Church where their parents were members.
Nick and Eileen lived on the farm until 1961 where they grew grain, raised cattle, horses, pigs, chickens and geese. They grew a large garden, and she did a lot of canning.
In 1961, they built a new home on an acreage at Insinger where Nick took over the Post Office. Eileen assisted Nick at the Insinger Post Office and later at the Sheho Post
Office. In 1984, she became the postmistress at the Insinger Post Office and retired in 1996.
They were members of the St. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Insinger Highway) from 1951 to 2001, where Eileen helped the ladies aid with church work and catering. In 2001, Eileen moved to Yorkton and became a member of Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church. She resided at 89 Russell Drive until the end of 2015 and then moved to the Rivera retirement home.
Eileen and Nick had two sons, Ivan of Vancouver and Randy (Gabrielle) and their son Kevin of Calgary.
Eileen enjoyed several hobbies including cross-stitching, crocheting, quilting and knitting in the winters and mushroom picking, wild berry picking and canning garden fruits, berries and vegetables in the summers.
Nick and Eileen travelled a lot including Hawaii (three times), Florida (twice), Mexico (twice), the Maritimes (twice), Disneyland and San Diego in California, Expo 86, Butchart Gardens, Victoria, Passion Play in South Dakota, Niagara Falls, Toronto and Eastern Canada as well as many trips to Calgary and Vancouver to visit their children.
Eileen was predeceased by her parents George and Mary Lessak, step-father John Maksymetz, husband Nick in 1997, brother Ernie Lessak in 2018, sister Olga Rusnak in 2022, niece Gail Rusnak in 1969; as well as brothers-in-law John Rusnak, Fred Moldowan and Mike Sitko.
Eileen is survived by her sons Ivan, Randy (Gabrielle), and their son Kevin; sisters Emily Moldowan, Dorothy Sitko, brother Wilf (Helga) Lessak and family, sister-in-law Elsie Lessak and family; and many nieces and nephews.
The funeral dervice was held on Thursday, April 30, 2026 from the Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre with the Very Reverend Archpriest Michael Faryna officiating. The responses were led by Jason Kopan and members of the Holy Transfiguration Ukrainian Orthodox Church choir. The cross bearers were Jenna Porath and Ellie Pociuk.
The interment followed in the Garden of Gethsemane, Yorkton Memorial Gardens with Wilf Lessak, Conrad Raddysh, Glen Ebert and Barry Bilokrely serving as casket bearers. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the New Regional Hospital Fund, Yorkton, c/o the Health Foundation, the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital or to Kinsmen Telemiracle as gifts of remembrance. Condolences may be left for the family at:
www.baileysfuneralhome.com
Христос Воскрес! – Christ is Risen!
