Olga Makuch

Olga was born to parents Theadore (Fred) Muzylowsky and Maria (Mary) Kukurudz Muzylowsky on February 24, 1935 in Boulton, Manitoba. She was the youngest of 6 children and was the last surviving sibling.

All of her life, if humour could be added to a situation, Olga was all in.

She loved to laugh and was not afraid to self deprecate in order to turn a tense or boring situation into an hilarious event. She turned every gathering, whether it was sitting by the campfire or at a social event, into a fun place to be just because she was there. Olga was many things. She was a devoted wife of Bill, caring for him for over 50 years. She was a passionate Mother of Janis and adored her only child who gave her thousands of reasons to want to stay alive.

She was a lifelong friend of so many and she was the legendary “favourite Aunt” to dozens. She was a great neighbour. She was a committed volunteer.

In addition to volunteering for many organizations all of her life, including years at Janis’ schools, Olga was a great Auntie and neighbour and she baby sat many of the kids of relatives and neighbours while Janis was young. Olga worked Block Watch and tended the properties and kids of many others on her street. She loved her home with it’s gorgeous mountain view.

She gardened with a passion and her home and yard were always tended to with such care.

For years Olga enjoyed making ceramics and her talented hands created many gifts which the receivers have treasured for over 40 years.

Olga started her life in a small community in Manitoba and was ever faithful to her deep Ukrainian roots. She was the daughter of the local Postmaster, and so she knew everyone, and was the most popular kid around making many friends and no enemies. After moving to Winnipeg in the 50’s, she met Bill at a dance and after that there was no other person for either of them. They were both renowned for their excellent dance skills and were always the first couple to start the dance and the last to leave the floor.

When Olga made the move to Vancouver for a job offer at Pioneer Envelope, Bill soon realized that he couldn’t live without her and followed shortly. They married and set up house in the west end of Vancouver in an apartment by the beach. In the early 60’s they bought their home and moved to South Burnaby where they lived their entire lives. After Janis was born and when she wasn’t volunteering at the school, Olga set up her own housecleaning business and met many new clients who also became friends. All through the years, Olga gathered friends and they enjoyed parties, card playing, camping and many family gatherings. Olga was an incredible cook and everything she made tasted delicious.

In her later years she enjoyed Aquafit and she and Bill joined senior volleyball which she truly enjoyed because of the wonderful people in the group at St Francis De Sales.

Shortly after Bill passed away in early March last year, Olga was diagnosed with a very invasive type of lung cancer. Olga declared that she was not ready to answer the call of death and with the help of Janis, who never left her side, she dedicated herself to resisting the advance of her cancer by using every recognized treatment and method of staying alive. Her words were “I want to be the Chief of my life and I won’t give up.” Always a determined woman she stuck with that until her final day on earth.

Her final weeks in the hospital were very difficult for both Olga and Janis as the severe visiting restrictions for all hospital patients imposed by the pandemic meant that Olga was alone and without comfort or a friendly face for many weeks with Janis and Olga only allowed to be together for the final couple of weeks.

In addition to her dear daughter Janis Makuch, and son in law Dwayne Beckerleg, Olga leaves behind her nephews and nieces in Manitoba, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Washington State,British Columbia and Japan

All who knew Olga will miss her deeply.

A cremation has taken place arranged by Dignity Memorial. No service planned at this time.