In loving honour of our mama
- written by her daughters Katrusia and Nadia -
Franciska (or Hania as she was known to friends and family), was born in Mlodowice Poland on the border with Ukraine, on September 13, 1947. She was the middle child in a family of six. Life wasn't easy. At a young age she went out into the fields to help run the family homestead and looked after her younger siblings.
At 26 years old, Hania’s parents decided to send her to Canada to live with her aunt in British Columbia. Hania cried and begged them to stay, but they insisted. With one small suitcase filled with a few clothes, a small axe head her father gave her (that’s air travel in the 70’s for you!), and a piece of paper with her aunt's name, address and phone number, she boarded a plane for Montreal. She was scared and alone. She didn't know the language and the furthest she had ever been was the main town of Premysl which was 30km from her home. It took great courage for her to make that journey and great faith that God had a bigger plan for her.
From Montreal, Hania took the train to BC. It was a long trip, and with little money, she could only afford tea and toast for the 2 day journey. Hungry and a little annoyed, she arrived in BC. It was so foreign to her. Huge trees everywhere. No fields or farms in sight, and no Ukrainians except for her aunt and her husband. The horror! After spending a few weeks in BC, her aunt got in touch with her great aunt in Toronto and they decided it was best she come to Toronto. Hania was driven to the train station, handed a piece of paper and sent on her way.
Although Toronto was a huge city, it felt like a community back then. Hania’s great aunt Bartoschyk lived in the Bloor West Village where you could walk into any store and speak Ukrainian to the staff. Hania became actively engaged in the church and UNO, where at a social dance, she met her husband Bohdan. They married in 1973 and made a home in the Bloor West village welcoming two daughters - Katrusia and Nadia.
Hania always remained committed to the community that so warmly welcomed her when she first arrived. She was a very active member of the League of Ukrainian Women and volunteered her time at the Ukrainian Canadian Social Services.
As for who Hania really was, it’s hard to summarize such a life well lived in a few words. If Oprah interviewed us for a documentary on the true meaning of “heart”, we would say this about mama:
• She always welcomed everyone with open arms and a big warm smile
• She had the best sense of humor and always found the good in everything and everyone. Mama was witty, and always had a joke at the ready
• She made people feel they were the most important person in the world and never had a bad word to say about anyone ever. Like for realz y’all. She forgave quickly, and always said "God forgive them for they do not know what they are saying or doing". You really don’t need to understand someone to forgive them.
• She all in loved us, and put our happiness above all else
• As a mother she was patient, kind and always took the time to really listen and understand us. She never judged, even though we were both so different. She was our biggest cheerleader.
• Above everything, she cherished being a babi to Maksym and Adam. She made unique cards with hand drawn characters and beautiful collages to celebrate everyday moments. These are precious and will be treasured by them forever. When she found out Adam was celiac, she learned to make gluten free varenyky. For a down home Uki gal to switch to Gluten Free varenyky, now that is LOVE! Even though her cancer tore down her body, it never affected her spirit. This was especially true when she saw Maks. She sprung to life, following him around the house and playing with him. She never let her boys see her in pain or in a bad mood. Mama personified courage and dignity in the face of such great adversity.
• Mama truly loved life. She thanked God for each day and for the beauty it contained
• The 4 most important lessons she taught us:
Face your fear with honesty, dignity, humility and courage
Treat other people as you would like to be treated
You get more by giving more
Forgive quickly. Everyone deserves a second chance.
Please consider living as she lived: with a pure and forgiving heart, and an open mind.
Tsyom Tsyom Mama.
Our angel on earth has been called home to heaven.
