Obituary of Wasyl Kozaruk

KOZARUK - Wasyl Kozaruk passed away peacefully at the Yorkton and District Nursing Home on Friday, September 8, 2006 at the age of 88 with his son and daughter-in-law by his side. He was born on September 15, 1917 in Wroxton, Saskatchewan; a son of Mary (nee Ellaschuk) and Leon Kozaruk. Later on in his life his parents purchased farm land near Calder where he continued to live and farm. He attended Minerva School. Many years later after his marriage to Elsie Chornawka (August 14, 1949), they purchased and moved Minerva School to the farm and renovated it into the family home. To this day his son Lorne still resides in the home with his wife Anne on the family farm. Wasyl loved the farm and as a couple he and his wife Elsie grain farmed and raised cattle. He also loved horses and had many stories of when he worked the fields with his horses, threshing, harvesting and haying. There were summers when he worked away from home with road construction crews and also worked a short time as an apprentice electrician at the Esterhazy mine while his wife Elsie tended the farm with their children but he would always be home in the fall for the haying season and harvest. Wasyl and Elsie loved going to church and were long time members at the Romanian Holy Trinity Church of MacNutt, which was one mile from the farm. When their health began failing he and his wife Elsie moved from the farm to Queen Elizabeth Court in Yorkton and they became members of St. Marks Orthodox Church in Yorkton. Wasyl continued to reside at Queen Elizabeth Court after his wife's death. He did not go out very often but loved going to church and to Mano's restaurant where he would have a bowl of his favorite chicken lemon rice soup. Eventually needing additional care he was moved to the Langenburg Nursing Home for a short stay, then to the Kamsack Nursing Home before moving to the Yorkton and District Nursing Home. He received special care from all the wonderful staff. He thoroughly enjoyed all the visits from friends and the continuous memorable visits with his son and daughter-in-law and attentive visits with his nieces Vic Eftoda and Bev Hilton and frequent telephone conversations with his daughter Rose. Wasyl was predeceased by his wife Elsie in July of 1996; his parents Leon and Mary; his sister Laura Danelko, and a brother Nick. He leaves to mourn his passing his children: Lorne (Anne) of Calder, and Rose (Michael) Falesy of Kitchener, ON; grandchildren Barbara (Fred) Stein, Kevin (Janie) Falesy, Michael Jr. (Rosa) Falesy and great grandchildren: Brett and Matthias Stein, Mya Falesy, Alexander Falesy; sister Dora Unchulenko of Calder; brother Jim of Melville, and many nieces and nephews. Prayer services were held on Thursday evening, September 14, 2006 from St. Mark the Evangelist Orthodox Church in Yorkton. The funeral service was held on Friday, September 15, 2006 from St. Mark's Church. Rev. Father Rodion Luciuk was the Celebrant. Father Tikhon led in the singing of the responses. The crossbearer was Vic Eftoda, the bannerbearers were Moira Stoll and Joan Taylor.The interment took place in the Yorkton Memorial Gardens with Michael Falesy Jr., Rodney Flunder, Jim Eftoda, George Stamatinos, John Keeper and Vern Britton serving as the casketbearers,. Arrangements were in care of Bailey's Funeral Home. Service Information Friday, September 15th, 2006 10:00am, St. Mark's Orthodox Church Interment Details Yorkton Memorial Gardens