UCC-SPC mourns the loss of Nation Builder Iryna Lazurko

b. 29 August 1921 (Sudova Vyshnia, Lviv oblast, Ukraine)
d. 21 May 2010 (Yorkton, SK)

June 1, 2010 -- Iryna Lazurko passed away peacefully on May 21st, 2010 at the Yorkton Regional Health Centre at the age of 88 years.

Iryna Danylak-Lazurko was born on August 29, 1921 in Sudova Vyshnia, Halychyna in Ukraine where she spent her childhood amid the love and warmth of her family and her only younger sister, Olena. Unfortunately, the Second World War destroyed her hopes and dreams, interrupted her education and broke apart the family. The whole family fled to Germany with the second advance of the Bolshevik Red Army where she and her sister worked in a shoe factory until the end of the war. Leaving Ukraine was the most traumatic event in her life that led her to commit herself to preserve and promote the Ukrainian spirit wherever she lived.

In 1946, she married Klym Lazurko and immigrated to Canada in 1948 with their one-year old son Yurij in tow. They lived on a farm near Invermay before moving to their permanent home town of Canora.

For more than 50 years she was involved in such activities as teaching Ukrainian school and organizing countless Mother’s Day concerts. She was involved in plays and drama productions, both with young people as well as adults. She prepared children for Konkurs – Ukrainian Arts Program competitions, offering extra training sessions in her home. Concerts in honour of Taras Shevchenko were high on her list of priorities.

Iryna was always involved with the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League of Canada, Canora Branch, having served on the Branch Executive. Her involvement with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress - Canora Branch, including serving on the UCC Executive, provided another avenue to showcase things Ukrainian. She took part in organizing the Centenary celebrations commemorating Ukrainian settlement in Canada and Ukrainian Independence Day celebrations. Together with her husband, Klym, sister and brother-in-law, Halyna and Stefan Popowych, they donated a building to the Canora UCC Branch to house the museum artefacts. She was very involved in fundraising efforts to meet the museum expenses as well as promoting the museum.

Iryna was an active member of the Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic parish. Her energy, enthusiasm, optimism and love for Ukrainian culture and tradition helped her to overcome the many challenges and achieve success in her community work for the glory of God and Ukraine. In recognition of her dedication to her cultural identity and community, Iryna was awarded a Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Saskatchewan Provincial Council Nation Builders Award in 2004.

She loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren very much and worked tirelessly to instil the value of the Ukrainian language and heritage in them. Finally, she thanked God for the grace to spend her elderly years with her husband in their home and faithfully cared for him to her last days. Her faith, prayer and love guided every day of her life and created a bond with her beloved homeland – Ukraine.

Iryna is lovingly remembered by her husband Klym of Canora, her sons: Fr. Yurij (Dorothy) of Moose Jaw, SK, Markian (Halyna) of Edmonton, AB and Andrij (Carla) of Regina, SK, her daughter Oksana (James) McIntyre of Red Deer, AB, her sister Halyna Popowych of Saskatoon, SK, her twelve grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her parents: Petro and Maria (nee Hryhorowych) Danylak.

The Prayer service was held from the Chapel of Leson’s Funeral Home, Canora. The Funeral Liturgy was celebrated from Sts. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, Canora with Rev. Fr. Yurij Lazurko, Celebrant. Interment followed in the Canora Cemetery.

Вічна Їй Пам'ять! May She Be Forever Remembered!