Obituary of Jefim Skrebcow

SKREBCOW - Jefim Skrebcow (Skrebsov) was born Aug. 15 1924 in Novopskov, eastern Ukraine to Fred and Tetiana Skrebsov. Jefim was the third child out of four children. As a young man Jefim witnessed the brutality of collectivization, his family's land, livestock, grain, equipment was seized by the communists. Jefim was sent onto a collective farm to work as a tractor operator. When Germany invaded his region all the young men were loaded on trains to be sent to Germany to work as forced labour in Germany. His brother John was killed at age 24 in the war. On the way to Germany their train was derailed and they all scurried into the woods and hid where they were finally found by Polish Army. First question they asked them was, do you want to join our army. The new journey for young Jefim began. He fought in Poland, Belarus and finally in Italy, alongside with Canadians troops. When the war finally ended the commander addressed them for the last time, in his address he told them they had two options: they could go to South Africa or Canada, not much of a decision to make was his remark, Canada, the land they never even dreamt they would ever come to. He arrived in 1946 at Halifax, then Yorkton where he got jobs on local farms. He moved to Toronto, then Calgary then back to Saskatchewan which he thought was the greatest place on earth. He never complained about the weather or the mosquitoes. He lived in Jedburgh, Insinger then finally Goodeve where he bought a house and spent many years there. In June of this year he moved to Ituna where he lived until his passing on Aug 9th. Jefim was quite a joking, happy natured person, always telling his (dry) jokes. He loved animals, nature, trees & grass fields, always admiring the crops of grain as we drove through the countryside. Jefim leaves to mourn his nieces, Tanya (Lawrence) Korchinski, niece Lydia (Alexander) Hrystenko, nephew Leonid (Larissa) Startsiv. His most loved Ihor, Tanya's son of Tallin, Estonia. He knew his family in Ukraine very well (internet). His family will miss him dearly, Prayers were held on Thursday evening, August 11th from Bailey's Funeral Chapel in Ituna. The funeral service was held on Friday, August 12th from St. Mary the Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Melville. Very Rev. Father Mel Slashinsky officiated. Cantor, William Kozey led in the singing of the responses. Members of the Royal Canadian Legion, Melville Branch #61 attended the service, performed the Legion Tribute Service, and also served as pallbearers. The interment took place in the veteran's section of the Melville Municipal Cemetery. Arrangements were in care of Bailey's Funeral Home. Vichnaya Pamyat! Service Information Friday, August 12th, 2011 10:00am, St. Mary the Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Church Interment Details Melville Municipal Cemetery