Obituary for Mary Louise Kolynchuk (Wazny)
Mary Louise Kolynchuk, 93, of Fort Frances, Ontario passed away in her sleep on Saturday August 20th, 2022 at La Verendrye Hospital.
Mary was born on December 10th, 1928 in Narol, Poland and was the eldest of four children born to parents, Franciszek and Anna Wazny (nee Hapko). Mary and her parents emigrated to Canada in the early 1930’s and settled in Brightstone, Manitoba before moving to neighbouring Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba where her family developed a successful grain and cattle farm.
Mary was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic church where she served for sixty five years as a member of the Catholic Women’s League. She participated in prayer groups and volunteered in several church activities.
Mary believed in always working whether as a fifteen year old cook’s helper at the Marlborough Hotel in Winnipeg, at La Verendrye Hospital for more than twenty-five years and loved tending her garden where she maintained picturesque flowers and enjoyed sharing plants with her neighbours. She was a cyclist and rode her bike till age seventy around Fort Frances and International Falls, Minnesota. She valued education and completed several courses at Confederation College as a mature student and inspired her children to be dedicated students. She loved to cook and enjoyed preparing special meals (turkey pie, Polish dishes, and sweet deserts) for her children and grandchildren when they came to visit her.
While working in Winnipeg, Mary met William Kolynchuk a Canadian army drill sergeant stationed in Winnipeg during World War II. After the war ended, they moved to Fort Frances and were married on September 27th, 1947 at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church. They raised their eight children Iris, Arlene, Marilyn, Doris, Victor, Raymond, Joan and Nancy and they were blessed to have fourteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Mary was predeceased by her husband William on August 7th, 1977, parents Franciszek and Anna Wazny, her sister Bertha Wickman, her brother Walter, and her grandson Dusty Ackles
She is survived by her brother Mike and sister-in-law Roxy in Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba, and numerous nephews and nieces.
Mary was a guiding inspiration for her family and will always be lovingly remembered by Iris (Milton Kotyk), Arlene, Marilyn Ackles, Doris (William Cain), Victor (Margaret), Raymond (Fadia), Joan Ross and Nancy (Les Davis).
Celebration of life including Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary’s Church in Fort Frances, Ontario on Thursday August 25, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. officiated by Reverend Gino Mathias. Visitation will be held at the Church starting one hour earlier. Interment will follow at Riverview Cemetery.
The family is very appreciative for the kindness and warm support Mary received from Dr. Moorhouse, staff at La Verendrye Hospital, Rainycrest Long Term Care, LHIN and others in the community who helped her through her journey of life. Mary enjoyed talking and listening to her neighbours and everyone she came into contact. Her advice no matter the situation was to, “take one day at a time and every day is a blessing”.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mary’s Church or Riverside Foundation for Health Care (Rainycrest Long Term Care Activation Unit).
Arrangements entrusted to Northridge Funeral Home ltd.
Mary was born on December 10th, 1928 in Narol, Poland and was the eldest of four children born to parents, Franciszek and Anna Wazny (nee Hapko). Mary and her parents emigrated to Canada in the early 1930’s and settled in Brightstone, Manitoba before moving to neighbouring Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba where her family developed a successful grain and cattle farm.
Mary was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic church where she served for sixty five years as a member of the Catholic Women’s League. She participated in prayer groups and volunteered in several church activities.
Mary believed in always working whether as a fifteen year old cook’s helper at the Marlborough Hotel in Winnipeg, at La Verendrye Hospital for more than twenty-five years and loved tending her garden where she maintained picturesque flowers and enjoyed sharing plants with her neighbours. She was a cyclist and rode her bike till age seventy around Fort Frances and International Falls, Minnesota. She valued education and completed several courses at Confederation College as a mature student and inspired her children to be dedicated students. She loved to cook and enjoyed preparing special meals (turkey pie, Polish dishes, and sweet deserts) for her children and grandchildren when they came to visit her.
While working in Winnipeg, Mary met William Kolynchuk a Canadian army drill sergeant stationed in Winnipeg during World War II. After the war ended, they moved to Fort Frances and were married on September 27th, 1947 at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church. They raised their eight children Iris, Arlene, Marilyn, Doris, Victor, Raymond, Joan and Nancy and they were blessed to have fourteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Mary was predeceased by her husband William on August 7th, 1977, parents Franciszek and Anna Wazny, her sister Bertha Wickman, her brother Walter, and her grandson Dusty Ackles
She is survived by her brother Mike and sister-in-law Roxy in Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba, and numerous nephews and nieces.
Mary was a guiding inspiration for her family and will always be lovingly remembered by Iris (Milton Kotyk), Arlene, Marilyn Ackles, Doris (William Cain), Victor (Margaret), Raymond (Fadia), Joan Ross and Nancy (Les Davis).
Celebration of life including Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary’s Church in Fort Frances, Ontario on Thursday August 25, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. officiated by Reverend Gino Mathias. Visitation will be held at the Church starting one hour earlier. Interment will follow at Riverview Cemetery.
The family is very appreciative for the kindness and warm support Mary received from Dr. Moorhouse, staff at La Verendrye Hospital, Rainycrest Long Term Care, LHIN and others in the community who helped her through her journey of life. Mary enjoyed talking and listening to her neighbours and everyone she came into contact. Her advice no matter the situation was to, “take one day at a time and every day is a blessing”.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mary’s Church or Riverside Foundation for Health Care (Rainycrest Long Term Care Activation Unit).
Arrangements entrusted to Northridge Funeral Home ltd.