Anna Lunyk

She is survived by her husband of 71 years, Stefan Lunyk; daughters Halya (Bill) and Ola (Peter); grandchildren Andriy and Anne Marie; and her extensive family in Ukraine. Anna Basarab was born December 10, 1925 in Borislav, Lvivska oblast, Ukraine. She was the eldest of five children. In August 1942 at 16 years of age, Anna was forcibly taken from her home to work on farms that supported the German war effort. Anna would not see her family or her homeland again until 1971. After the war, Anna was transferred to a displaced persons internment camp at Karlsruhe where she met her future husband Stefan Lunyk, in the summer of 1947. They were married March 7, 1948 and emigrated to Canada in the spring of 1949. Stefan and Anna settled in Val D’Or, Quebec where their first daughter, Halya Ivanka, was born in 1950. Seeking better opportunities and a warmer climate, Anna and Stefan moved the family to Hamilton where their second daughter Ola Irka was born in 1956. In Hamilton they met their close Ukrainian community with whom they would grow, laugh and raise their children; upholding the traditions, culture and faith of their homeland. Anna and Stefan loved to work together tending to their garden, preserving the food they grew and cooking the traditional foods of Ukraine. Together they taught their daughters and grandchildren the value of family, tradition and unconditional love. The love they shared was a beautiful bond that kept them strong throughout their lifetime and especially through these last trying years. March 2019 marked Anna and Stefan’s 71st wedding anniversary. We wish Anna, our mom, our baba and Stefan’s life partner a safe journey from our loving arms and into the arms of God where she can now find peace. We thank the caring staff at Alexander Place for the gentle, compassionate care they provided to Anna and also to the family. They came to love our Baba and it showed immensely through the process of her passing. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Ukrainian Youth Association Hamilton Chapter or Chernobyl Children International.

Visitation will be held at Markey-Dermody Funeral Home,1774 King Street E. (at Kenilworth) on Monday, October 28th from 5-8pm with Panachyda at 7:00pm. The Funeral will take place at Holy Spirit Ukrainian Catholic Church, 15 St Olga St, Hamilton on Tuesday, October 29th at 11:00 am. Interment to follow at St Volodymyr Ukrainian Cemetery, 1280 Dundas Street West, Oakville. All are welcome to attend the Tryznya, a celebration of Anna’s life immediately following the burial, to be held at St Volodymyr Cultural Centre adjacent to the cemetery. Religious services will be presided by Dean of the Deanery Pastor Renaldo Kekis of the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Resurrection.

Vichnaya Pamyat