Obituary of Nestor Halia Kyba Sr.

KYBA - Sister Nestor Kyba passed to her eternal reward on 24 December 2021, at home in Yorkton, SK, at the age of 94 years with 76 years in Religious Life as a Sister Servant of Mary Immaculate. Halia, the oldest of three children was born to Stephen and Katherine (Ewachiw) Kyba on 2 August 1927 on their homestead near Veregin, SK. She received her early education at Mikado School and high school education at Sacred Heart Academy in Yorkton, SK. Prior to entering religious life she worked part-time at the Municipal Office in Mikado, SK. Halia entered the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate on 30 August 1945 in Mundare, AB. On 1 March 1946 she received her habit and began her Novitiate training, taking the name Nestor, her Patron Saint. She experienced an exciting cross-country train journey when the whole novitiate was transferred to Ancaster, ON. She pronounced her First Vows on 2 March 1948, and Perpetual Vows on 15 August 1954. After her First Vows, Sr. Nestor served as a Nurses' Aide in the Mundare Hospital. She then trained under the Misericordia Sisters in Edmonton, AB, becoming a Registered Nurse in 1951. In 1981, she earned her Bachelor of Nursing Degree at the University of Calgary. For more than 40 years she ministered as a nurse in Alberta (Mundare, Willingdon, Edmonton, Calgary); in Saskatchewan (Saskatoon, Ituna, Yorkton); in Manitoba (Winnipeg, Dauphin) and in Ontario (Toronto). In Edmonton, Calgary and Toronto, while ministering as a nurse, she continued annual upgrades to her certification through courses and workshops. In 1987, she even studied Gerontology in Japan. Throughout her career, her involvements included X-ray, pharmacology, Emergency Measures Planning, General Duty, training student nurses, Acute Care, Long-Term Care, Obstetrics, Gerontology, Administration and Pastoral Care. In administrative positions, she was Director of Nursing (DON) at the Mary Immaculate Hospitals in Willingdon and Mundare, AB; Administrator and DON at the Ituna Union Hospital; Assistant administrator and later General Director at St. Paul's Nursing Home in Dauphin, MB; Nursing Supervisor at Holy Family Nursing Home in Winnipeg, MB; Director of Care (DOC) at Lakeside Home in Wolseley, SK and Assistant DOC at St. Paul's Lutheran Home in Melville, SK. Sister Nestor contributed to the establishment of St. Joseph's Home in Saskatoon, SK, owned and operated by the Ukrainian Sisters of St. Joseph. She worked closely with the Lay Advisory Group to plan all phases of the preparation for the opening of the facility. As the St. Joseph Sisters were new to the field, Sr. Nestor assumed responsibility for the training and supervision of their DON, who had not yet completed her certification. Sr. Nestor organized the in-services to train the staff; for example, the Dietary Department and Director of Volunteers. In addition, the Department of Social Services, SK recommended her to advise the newly-opened Adventist Sunset Nursing Home Resident Programme and to take part in a Programming Panel for Psychiatric Care. In the summer months, especially in her younger years, Sr. Nestor taught catechism and acted as camp nurse in summer camps. She taught in Sifton, Ethelbert, Winnipegosis, Gilbert Plains and Rorketon in Manitoba and New Kiev, Camp St. Basil's (Pigeon Lake) and Camp Oselia (Wabamun) in Alberta. She was involved also in Parish Catechisms in Mundare and Chipman, AB and in Dauphin, MB where she organized catechism and Ukrainian language programs. While working in the hospitals, she would also catechize her younger patients, preparing them to receive the Sacraments. She taught English language to one such patient, who spoke only Ukrainian, so that he would not fall behind in his schooling during his extended hospital stay. Later he became the Premier of Alberta and he recalls her help with much gratitude! Pastoral Care was a great part of her ministry, as she prepared elderly patients to meet the Lord. She also acted as liaison to clerics of other denominations and was invited to share her expertise with Protestant Theology students. Sister Nestor served as Local Superior in Dauphin, MB and Calgary, AB. She and the Sisters organized youth programs, worked with Parish Organizations and Prayer Groups. She was part of a Team who gave workshops on Health Care at Providence Centre in Edmonton, AB. In summary, Sr. Nestor lived out the charism of the SSMI - "to serve where the need is the greatest". A woman of boundless energy, Sr. Nestor knew how to appreciate a change of pace. One of the highlights of her life was a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, part of her sabbatical studies (CREDO) at Gongaza, University in Spokane, WA. The trip included five days in Italy, touring Rome, Florence and Assisi. In addition to various other trips with a friend and reunions with her RN classmates, most often her holiday time was spent with her parents, for whom she cared in their final years. Sister Nestor was predeceased by her parents, Stephen and Katherine, and is survived by her sister Daria Kyba of Calgary, brother Russell Kyba and his wife Anna Marie of Wetaskiwin, AB and their family and her co-sisters in the congregation of the SSMI. May Sister Nestor's memory be eternal! Vichna Pamyat'! Prayers were held on January 3rd and Funeral Liturgy on January 4th at St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church, Yorkton with Most Rev. Bishop Bryan Bayda, Most Rev. Bishop Emeritus Peter Stasiuk, Rev. Fr. Leonid Malkov, and Rev. Fr. Yevhen Zadorozhnyi as the Concelebrants. The responses were led by Lorne Stechyshyn and members of the Funeral Choir. The crossbearer was Sister Marika Konderewicz and the epistle reader was Sister Bonnie Komarnicki. The interment followed in the Yorkton City Cemetery with Steve Popowich, Dave Spelay, Victor Puchala, Methodius Holawatuk, Gerald Gromnisky and Lorne Stechyshyn serving as the casket bearerers. Sister Terri-Anne Slota and Sister Suzanne Kukorudz shared words of reflection and appreciation. Memorials in Sister Nestor's memory may be made to Lubov SSMI Foundation (1085 Main Street Winnipeg, MB R2W 3S1). Service Details. Prayers Monday, January 3rd, 2022 | 7:00pm When: Monday, January 3rd, 2022 7:00pm Location: St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church Address: 155 Catherine St. YORKTON, SK S3N 0B9 Funeral Liturgy Tuesday, January 4th, 2022 | 10:00am When: Tuesday, January 4th, 2022 10:00am Location: St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church Address: 155 Catherine St. YORKTON, SK S3N 0B9 Interment Location: Yorkton City Cemetery Address: King St. East YORKTON, SK Online Memory & Photo Sharing Event Ongoing Online Event About this event In Loving Memory Of Sr. Nestor Halia Kyba August 2, 1927 - December 24, 2021 Look inside to read what others have shared Family and friends are coming together online to create a special keepsake. Every memory left on the online obituary will be automatically included in this book. View Tribute Book