With heavy hearts, the family of Mary Gushulak, aged 95 years, announce that on December 3, 2024, she is now resting in peace. We are grateful for the wonderful care she received as a resident of Rainycrest since 2012.
She was born to Wasylka and Kostantyn Melnychuk on August 31, 1929, in Stuartburn, Manitoba, and raised on the family farm. It was just a short distance from the Gushulak farm where she caught the eye of Ilio, whom she married and soon after started a family. That family includes six sons: Richard (Pat) and their children Richie (Zena), Ryan (Val) and Kate; William (Mary Jane) and their sons Matthew (Holly), Steven (Bev) and their sons Andy and Theo; Gordon (Kim) and their daughter Amy and her son James and their son Jeff (Krista) and their children Gianna and Camden; Robert (Marg) and their son Brad (Jamie) and their children Carson, Kyrie and Cohen; Sarah (Chuck) Arpin and their children Peyton and Austin; Ronald (Susan) and their sons Reagan (Jessica) and their children Calvin and Sylvia, Nathan (Erin) and their son Teddy; Michael (Morgan) and Mom and Dad’s youngest son Paul.
She was predeceased by her husband Ilio Gushulak; brothers Nick and Alex Melnychuk and her sister Sophie Basaraba.
Very active in St. George’s Ukrainian Church, the Ukrainian Hall and the Lesia Ukrainka Ladies Branch she was gifted with her ability to read, write, sing and of course speak the Ukrainian language fluently. Along with these gifts, our family was fortunate to be able to enjoy her delicious Ukrainian cooking. When she made fresh donuts, this was a special after school treat. She was competitive when it came to bowling and as a team member of the North End Ladies Baseball Team in days gone by.
Having been raised on the Manitoba farm and with plenty of space at her North End home, she was always happy to get her garden growing in the spring, nurturing it all summer and harvesting the fall crop. One of her greatest accomplishments was obtaining her driver’s licence when she was 65 years old. It provided her the freedom to cover the territory between home, the church, the bowling alley, shopping excursions and visiting family.
Due to winter constraints, a private family service will take place at Riverview Cemetery followed by a celebration of life in the spring when family can more safely travel to Fort Frances.
If so desired, memorial donations may be directed to either St. George’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Attention: Ann Wood, 242 Sixth Street East, Fort Frances, Ontario, P9A 1W7,
or Rainycrest c/o Riverside Foundation for Health Care, 110 Victoria Avenue, Fort Frances, Ontario, P9A 2B7.
