It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Natalie Roxanne Shymko, beloved daughter of Stephanie (Kowal) Shymko and Yuri Shymko and cherished sister of Lesia (Lisa) Shymko. Natalie passed away peacefully at home after a brief battle with cancer.

Natalie was a kind, intelligent, and joyous person. She loved music and fine art, often playing the flute while accompanied on piano by her sister and soulmate, Lesia.
Natalie was an honour student who graduated with a BA from the University of Toronto, where she went on to obtain a Master’s Degree in Fine Art History as well as a TESL Degree.

Thanks to her proficiency in Ukrainian, French, and Italian, in addition to being an educator, she was a fine art appraiser for the insurance sector as well as various Canadian and Ukrainian institutions.

Natalie served on the Arts Committee at Hart House at the University of Toronto, and was a juror for several exhibitions during Toronto Arts Week. She was grateful for the guidance she received from her longtime mentor, Judi Schwartz, the founding curator and director of the Justina M Barnicke Gallery at Hart House. Natalie had personal and professional relationships with some of Canada's leading artists, including the late Doris McCarthy and Robert Genn. And during her several visits to Ukraine, she had the opportunity to meet with some of her favourite artists in Kyiv, including Ivan Marchuk, Valeriy Franchuk, and Borys Plaksiy, who painted her portrait.

Natalie had deep roots in the Ukrainian-Canadian community. She was a long-time member of the Ukrainian Catholic Women's League of Canada (UCWLC) at St. Basil the Great in Toronto and later at Holy Protection of the Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Church in Toronto. Natalie contributed articles to the UCWLC national magazine Nasha Doroha, where she wrote on themes related the historic legacy of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church and its artistic contributions to Europe.

Natalie leaves behind many friends, colleagues, and family members, including uncles, aunts, and cousins in Canada, the US, France, and Ukraine.

May the memory of Natalie be a blessing.
May She Rest in Peace.
Vichnaya Pamyat!

A Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 9, 2025 from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m., at Turner & Porter Yorke Chapel, (2357 Bloor St. West near Windermere Ave.). Panakhyda will begin at 7:30 p.m. The Funeral Service will be held at Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Holy Protection (30 Leeds St. in Toronto) on Monday, February 10, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. Interment St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Cemetery.

A memorial reception for family, close friends, and colleagues will be held at a separate venue, by invitation only.

Anyone wishing to make a tax-deductible donation in memory of Natalie Roxanne Shymko can do so by making a memorial donation in support of one of two charities:
- The Journey for Truth Project of the Peterson Literary Fund at BCU FOUNDATION
https://www.petersonliteraryfund.com/journey-for-truth-project
- Ukrainian Catholic Women's League of Canada (Eparchy of Toronto and Eastern Canada) via e-transfer to: ucwlc.eparchy.toronto@gmail.com