At the age of 86 years, Helen Cymbalisty, beloved wife of the late Orest Cymbalisty, passed away at the Canora Hospital on October 4, 2015. Helen was born on June 5, 1929, to Stach (Tom) and Tekla (Tillie Moroz) Tomochko in Stenen, SK. Helen was the third oldest of five children. Growing up in Stenen, she experienced life working in her parents’ general store. With suitcase in hand, she ventured with a friend by train to Winnipeg, MB. City life was not for Helen.
She immediately turned around, travelled back to Stenen and worked at Murfield’s Lumber Yard. On July 31, 1949, she was united in marriage at the Heritage Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canora to Orest Cymbalisty, son of Michael and Anne (Chocholik) Cymbalisty of the Donwell area. From that day forward, Helen became an integral part of Orest’s farming operation. Her day included hauling/unloading grain all while raising chickens, growing a vegetable garden and continuing to offer full homemade meals to enjoy on the field. Until 1963, Helen and Orest resided on their own homestead where they were blessed with Joanne Carol (1951), Diana Lynn (1955) and Sharon Anne (1962).
Orest then moved all his girls to his parents’ family farm where they resided and farmed until their retirement to Canora in 1981. Helen and Orest experienced a number of moves throughout their retirement. Their happiest times were at home in Canora. Helen became a resident of St. Paul Lutheran Home in Melville on July 19, 2013. On September 29, 2015, she returned home to Canora Hospital, where she received Palliative Compassionate Care until her passing. Helen enjoyed: cooking, sewing, baking, knitting, crocheting, listening to music and dancing. With the purchase of their first TV, a program she enjoyed included, ‘I Love Lucy.’ Later, Helen enjoyed the shows ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ ‘Ellen DeGeneres,’ ‘The Big Bang Theory’ and ‘The Weather Channel.’ Helen’s favourite movie was ‘Sentimental Journey.’ Her love of music included, Perry Como, Bing Crosby, old time music and later in life, Daniel O’Donnell, which all speak to her love of dance and music throughout her life’s journey and quality of life to her last days.
Helen took pride in the accomplishments of her family, always making an effort to share with her presence. When family visited, she was always ready with special dishes and made the best buns and soups. Although very skeptical of flying and fear of heights and the mountains, Helen managed to fly to Ontario and drive through the mountains. All this was nice to see but she was a prairie girl at heart. Helen was a member of the Ukrainian Women’s Association of Canada, Olha Kobylianska Branch, and Maria Markovych Branch and a member of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity as well as the Canora Hospital Auxiliary. Helen also ventured into the work world and shared her love of cooking while she worked at Canora’s Chicken Villa and Coop restaurant.
Helen has left her family with wonderful and fond memories and will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her. She remained dedicated to her family, her friends and her faith. Helen was predeceased by her parents, Tom and Tillie; her husband, Orest; and brothers, Nick and Paul Tomochko. She is lovingly remembered by her daughters: JoAnne of Hillsdale, ON, Diana of Winnipeg, MB and Sharon (Larry) of Canora, SK; her sister, Mary Panchuk of Kamsack, SK and brother Michael (Shirley) of Calgary, AB; three granddaughters: Carla Prokopchuk of Dauphin, MB, Debra Theyer (Nicholas) of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and Stephanie Prokopchuk of Port Perry, ON and her four great-grandsons: Luke, Benjamin, Joshua and Matthew; as well as her nieces and nephews who have fond memories of their visits to the farm. The Prayer Service was held on Thursday, October 8, 2015, at 7:00 p.m. from the Chapel of Leson’s Funeral Home.
Funeral Services commenced Friday, October 9, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, Canora, with Rev. Fr. Michael Faryna officiating. Interment followed in the Canora Cemetery. Those wishing to make expressions of sympathy may make donations to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity or to the Alzheimer’s Society of Saskatchewan, in memory of Helen Cymbalisty. Family and friends unable to attend are invited to sign an online guest book for Helen at www.lesonsfuneralhome.ca. Arrangements were entrusted to LESON’S FUNERAL HOME, Canora.
