It is with broken hearts and incalculable sadness that we must announce that Christina (Khrystia) Bajus Tracz passed away on March 30, 2023, at the young age of 33 after a brave, long fight against all medical odds.

Christina was a beautiful soul who brightened the lives of those around her. She was born on September 26, 1989, and from that moment on, the universe was blessed with her presence.

Christina’s life was full of adventure, curiosity, and love. Her warm-hearted and kind nature made her a beloved daughter, sister, wife, and friend to many. Christina was a proud and loving aunt to her nieces and nephews. She brought her infectious laughter and whimsical spirit to every room she entered and had the unique ability to make everyone feel valued and loved.

Christina spent her formative years in Mississauga, attending a variety of schools and youth organizations, including St. Sofia Elementary School, Mentor College, Holy Name of Mary High School, Plast Ukrainian Youth Association, Ukrainian Academy of Dance, and St. Nicholas Ukrainian Saturday School. In the summers, she loved going to Hawkestone with her family, where she loved jumping off the dock, dancing at the pavilion, and where she and her "bicycle gang" would patrol the trailer park grounds.

Christina graduated from McMaster University where she was an active executive member of the McMaster Ukrainian Students' Association and went on to join the Ukrainian Canadian Students’ Union. She was very proud of her Ukrainian and Lemko heritage, and an avid member of the Ukrainian community, including her Plast sorority, the Kniahyni. Through the Ukrainian community, Christina met Dobryan, and they began dating in 2014. Christina moved to Winnipeg to be with Dobryan and in 2019 they married in Oakville.

While living in the West, Christina took up fishing, playing tennis, and attempted a brief but unsuccessful launch of a curling career, which resulted in a broken wrist. She loved spending time with her friends, and was regularly found at the spa, on Manitoba’s lakes, taking in summer on a patio, or sitting around the campfire, where she inevitably would fall asleep in her camping chair.

She enjoyed volunteering at the Festival du Voyageur in Winnipeg, a festival full of fiddle music, campfires, and maple syrup (and the occasional bootlegging of drinks, in her favourite Manitobah Mukluk boots).

Christina had a passion for learning, playing music (especially on her ukulele), exploring new places, and volunteering for causes she believed in. She was an avid traveller and enjoyed spending time outdoors, whether it was on a warm sandy beach, in Canada’s stunning national parks, or in Europe, especially Lemkivshchyna. Sadly, she never had a chance to visit her beloved Ukraine or her plot of the Scottish Highlands.

After a long COVID isolation period with virtual get-togethers on their condo balcony, Christina, Dobryan, and their beloved “fur child” Varenyk moved to Ottawa and joined their new community, where Christina loved the nearby TransCanada Trail, local markets, and general life in the metropolis of Stittsville.

Her love for her husband Dobryan and Varenyk was boundless. She was grateful for their unwavering support and lifting her spirits while in the hospital.

The family is forever grateful for all the kindness, support, and love shown to Christina through her brave fight.

Special acknowledgement and gratitude to Father Roman Rytsar for conducting prayer services in Ukrainian at her hospital bedside and to the staff of The Ottawa Hospital and Ottawa Heart Institute for their care.

Christina is survived by her loving husband Dobryan, her sister Natalia, her parents Jaroslaw (Jerry) and Ola, her grandmother Maria, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The viewing will take place on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, at St. Joseph’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, in Oakville between 18:00 and 21:00.
A prayer service/panakhyda will be held at 19:30.
Funeral services will take place at 10:00 on Thursday, April 6, 2023.
A livestream of both will be made available on the St. Joseph’s Ukrainian Catholic Church website for those who are unable to attend.

Flowers for the service can be sent directly to the Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Kidney Foundation of Canada (https://kidney.ca/).

Christina’s legacy will be remembered through her selflessness, her devotion to her family, her commitment to her Ukrainian heritage, and her joyous zest for life. She will be forever missed, but never forgotten.

Вічная Пам’ять Memory Eternal