Jennie Violet Ortynsky, beloved wife of the late Nestor Ortynsky, passed away at the Yorkton and District Nursing Home on October 5, 2016, at the age of 89 years. Jennie was born May 20, 1927 to George and Nellie (Blahut) Lys. She fondly remembered her childhood, growing up with her brother, Walter, in Sheho, SK where her parents owned the General Store. Jennie moved to Yorkton during her high school years and for a while, she lived with her maternal grandparents, William and Annie Blahut. Jennie and her parents then relocated to Saskatoon where she began her nursing education. She graduated as a registered nurse from St. Paul's Hospital in Saskatoon and did postgraduate work at Jersey City Medical Center in New Jersey, United States, specializing in obstetrics and community nursing. Jennie was a founding member of the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses and travelled the province recruiting new members. She received many distinguished awards including the Nora Armstrong for Health Advocacy, Founding Board Member for the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses and Saskatchewan Health Organization Outstanding Work in Health Advocacy. She was also awarded the Saskatchewan Award of Merit Medal for Community Work. Â Jennie generously devoted her time, talents and leadership to varying boards, associations, committees and institutions and was a valuable asset to the field of nursing in Saskatchewan. Â After retirement, Jennie continued to dedicate her skills and knowledge to Saskatchewan Health Care as Chair of the Assiniboine Valley Health Region and active member of Saskatchewan Health Care Organization, as well as contribute to the newly formed Sunrise Health Region, as a Board Member. She held executive positions as secretary and president of the Parkland Music Festival and the Canora School Unit respectively, as well as president of the Ukrainian Women's Association, Maria Markovych Branch. In addition to her dedication to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian community, she served as president of the Ukrainian Museum of Canada in Saskatoon. Jennie was also honoured as a Nation Builder by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Saskatchewan and was a long time member of Canora Beta Sigma Phi. On July 16, 1952, she married Nestor Ortynsky at Canora, SK. Her most important role was a wife, mother and baba. Whether it was planning meals for holidays, supporting her husband with the purchase and growth of Canora Central Motors, farming, or enjoying a Sunday at the cabin, she was the pillar of the family. Jennie and Nestor enjoyed traveling to places like Hawaii, Brazil, France, Mexico and Barbados. Aside from being with her family and volunteering wherever she was able, Jennie's hobbies included weaving (including a workshop to the Banff School of Arts), needlepoint, knitting wonderful sweaters for family and reading. Jennie lived in her home until July of 2014. She then became a resident of the Norquay Nursing Home and in January of 2015, the Yorkton Nursing Home (Melody Manor), where she continued to reside until her passing. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her. Jennie was predeceased by her parents, George and Nellie; brother, Walter in 1960 and husband, Nestor in 2013. She is survived by her two sons, Evan (Brenda) and their children: Joseph, Nathan and Mikaila and Terry (Linda) and their children: Stephanie, Vanessa and Natalie. A Prayer Service was held on Sunday, October 9, 2016 at 7:00 pm and Funeral Services commenced Monday, October 10, 2016 at 10:00 am, both 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 Museum of Canada or to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, Canora, SK, as tokens of remembrance, in memory of Jennie Ortynsky. Family and friends unable to attend may sign an online guest book for Jennie at . Arrangements were entrusted to LESON'S FUNERAL HOME, Canora.
