DIMETRIUS ‘MATT’ HRYCHUK

It is with great sadness that the family of Dimetrius “Matt” Hrychuk announces his passing on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009 at his residence in Emo, Ont.
Matt was born Jan. 7, 1928 in Wasuiczyn, Poland to Matt and Nettie Hrychuk.
Matt came to Canada with his parents and two older siblings in 1930, settling in northern Saskatchewan. Matt’s family began homesteading in 1934.
He began cutting pulpwood in Saskatchewan, then moving to Ontario in 1945, working in Longlac, Camp 108 at Flanders, the Manitou, Shoal Lake, and Camp 309 at Nestor Falls. He returned to farm in Saskatchewan during the summer months.
Matt also worked as a guide at Larsson’s Camp in Nestor Falls for a period of time in 1951, and also worked on construction on Highways 71 and 11.
He continued to cut pulpwood for Mando until 1965, then began contracting on his own in the Nestor Falls and Sioux Narrows areas until his retirement in the late 1980s.
When Matt began cutting pulpwood, most of the work was done by hand. He started his career with a swede saw and an axe, getting paid five cents for a pulp wood stick.
When he began using a power saw, he was the first logger at Camp 309 to cut 100 cords of pulpwood in a month.
He cut several of the logging roads in the Nestor Falls area, digging out the rocks and roots by hand in order to make extra money.
Matt had a work ethic second-to-none and took great pride in his profession. He earned every dollar that passed through his hands.
Matt also took great pride in the community of Nestor Falls, donating his time to help build the old Legion Hall, the curling rink, and the fire hall.
Matt also helped with work at the Nestor Falls School and clearing the land for the Nestor Falls airstrip.
He was a deeply religious man, sitting on the parish council of the Sacred Heart/Our Lady of the Lake parish for many years. Matt’s deep faith helped him through many hardships and health problems, including open heart surgery, three bouts with cancer, and severe arthritis.
Despite suffering from these health problems, Matt never lost faith, took everything in stride, and never complained.
Matt had a great love for the outdoors, especially fishing. He took great pride in having family and friends over for a fish fry after a day on the lake.
He also loved hunting, gardening, and watching sports, and was an avid reader.
Matt was a very honest, just, caring, and humble man who touched everybody he met in a meaningful way. He had a wonderful sense of humour and enjoyed telling jokes and sharing stories about his life growing up.
He will long be remembered for generations to come through his family and many friends.
Matt was predeceased by his parents, Matt and Nettie; brothers, Peter, Paul, Wilbert, Walter, and Steve; in-laws, Tom and Myrtle Jolicouer; and brothers-in-law, Arthur Thornton, Tom Jolicouer Jr., Vincent Jolicouer, Gordon Pearson, and Mervin Benjamin.
Matt is survived by his wife, June; daughters, Patsy, Judy (Myron McCool), and Donna (Richard Brady); and sons, Ron (Patricia) and Terry (Tracy).
Also surviving are his grandchildren, Kim Palmeter (Andrew), Darryl McCool (Camille), Cindy McCool, Michael Hunter (Kylee), Chris Hunter (Pam), Heather Chuka (Neil), Daniel Hrychuk, Stephen Hrychuk, Adam Brady, Aaron Brady, and Garret Cain; great-grandchildren, Matthew Palmeter, Brady Hunter, and Cole Hunter; sisters, Helen Thornton, Annie Flowerday, and Mary Bloom; and numerous in-laws, nieces, and nephews.
Family and friends were received Monday, Oct. 19, 2009 from 7-9 p.m. at Northridge Funeral Home in Emo. Prayers were offered at 7 p.m.
A funeral mass was held Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009 at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Emo.
Interment took place in Emo Cemetery in Emo. A reception followed at Northridge Funeral Home.
The pallbearers were Matt’s grandsons, Michael Hunter, Chris Hunter, Darryl McCool, Adam Brady, Aaron Brady, Daniel Hrychuk, Stephen Hrychuk, and Garret Cain.
The honourary pallbearers were Bob Kelly, Neil Grant, Paul Kuchma, Wayne Johnson, Syd Curtis, Leonard Jordens, and Conrad Fisk.
If desired, in memoriam donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Canadian Cancer Society c/o Northridge Funeral Home, P.O. Box 89, Emo, Ont., P0W 1E0.
Online condolences may be offered at www.northridgefuneralhome.com