Obituary of Bill Uchacz

Mr. Bill Uchacz of Ituna, beloved husband of Rosie Uchacz reached the end of his journey on this earth on March 21, 2017 when he died peacefully with family and caring staff by his side. He was 90 years of age. Bill was born on the family farm on February 25, 1927. He was the 9th of 15 children born to Sam and Mary (Kuzyk) Uchacz. He attended school in Ituna. In the fall of 1947 Bill went to Hamilton, Ontario and worked for the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. As his heart was still on the farm, Bill ended up moving back to the farm working alongside his parents until their retirement in 1953, after which he took over the family farm. On October 25, 1955, Bill married Rose Kaczmar at the Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church in Ituna and they were blessed with one child, Laura. Bill was a faithful parishioner of the Sacred Heart Parish and very active in the community, serving on many boards throughout the years. He served as a Counselor for Division 2 in the RM of Ituna Bon Accord #246 for 4 years. In 1978, he was elected as Reeve and served until 1993. Bill was also on the Ituna and District Pioneer Lodge, Ambulance, Fire Association, Ituna Rural Telephone, and Ituna Coop boards, as well as a member of the Ituna Knights of Columbus, Grand Knight, 4th Degree Knight, parish choir, parish president and member of Sacred Heart Parish Council. Bill also loved to travel. This took him, Rosie and Laura, along with Bill and Rosie's friends to many destinations throughout Canada, United States, and Europe including Ukraine, where Bill was able to meet his relatives. Whether Rosie wanted to go or not, they were headed on an adventure. He enjoyed getting together with family and friends, golfing, attending social events, and oh yes, harvest, his favorite time of the year. Bill and Rosie "retired" from farming when they moved into their newly built home in Ituna in December 1989. Daughter, Laura, and her husband, Terry, then took over the family farm. Bill's farm was his life and he continued to help out until he turned 80 in 2007. Bill and Rose also were blessed with 2 grandsons, Matthew and Michael. Gee, as the boys called him……..loved spending time with them, whether it was teaching them how to golf, drive, combine, or anything else he figured they needed to know, and attended the boys' activities whenever he could. In his later years, Bill became a caregiver to Rosie who suffered with Alzheimer's disease, and eventually she became a resident of the Ituna Pioneer Lodge in March 2008. Bill's own health, in the process of caring for her, started to decline and he followed Rosie, becoming a resident himself on August 12, 2010. Residing at this facility, he never lost his appetite for food or his voice for singing! One of Bill's last blessings, with the help of good friends, was being able to physically attend Michael and Samantha's wedding this past New Year's Eve. Bill enjoyed participating in singing at the wedding ceremony and being present for the banquet as well. On March 11, 2017, Bill became ill and was transported to St Peter's Hospital in Melville. One of his last requests was to go back to the lodge in Ituna. As he declined, the decision was made to transfer him back to the lodge, fulfilling his wishes. Bill was predeceased by his parents, Sam and Mary; his brothers Peter, John, Mike, Joe, and Nick; sisters Pauline Petruka, Sr. Metrophane (Anne) Uchacz, Helen Czerkurlon, Kay Polovick, Mary Sikorski, and 2 siblings in infancy. He leaves to cherish his memory his wife Rosie, daughter Laura (Terry) Berezny, and grandsons, Matthew and Michael (Samantha) Berezny; brother Benny (Helen), sister Jennie Sali, numerous nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. Prayers were held on Monday, March 27, 2017 at Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church in Ituna. The Holy Rosary led by members of the Knights of Columbus preceded the prayers. The Funeral Liturgy was held on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church with Very Rev. Peter Pidskalny, C.Ss.R. and Bishop Emertius Michael Wiwchar, C.Ss.R. concelebrating. The cross bearer was Samantha Berezny and the epistle reader was Delores Moskal. Knight of Columbus, 4th Degree members formed a colour guard and members of the 3rd degree formed the honour guard. The interment followed in Sacred Heart Parish Cemetery with Matthew Berezny, Michael Berezny, Richard Kaczmar, Barry Uchacz, Dan Uchacz and Leonard Yonkman serving as the casket bearers. Memorials honouring Bill's life may be made to Sacred Heart Cemetery Fund or the Ituna Health Centre as gifts of remembrance. Condolences can be sent to the family at www.baileysfuneralhome.com Vichnaya Pamyat! Eternal Memory! Service Information Monday, March 27th, 2017 7:00pm, Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church Details: Service Extra Info Rosary led by the Knights of Columbus precedes at 6:30p.m. Tuesday, March 28th, 2017 10:00am, Sacred Heart Ukrainian Catholic Church Interment Details Sacred Heart Parish Cemetery