Sophie Basaraba

It is with great sorrow the family of Sophie Basaraba announce her sudden passing Tuesday, June 4, 2002 at La Verendrye Hospital in Fort Frances, Ont.
Sophie was born Feb. 1, 1932 in Gardenton, Man. to Kost (Jack) and Wasylka Melnychuk. She moved to Fort Frances as a young woman.
She was united in marriage to John Basaraba on Feb. 3, 1951.
Over the years, Sophie worked as a waitress at numerous cafes and restaurants in the area, and later at Rainycrest Home for the Aged. She loved to spend time with her family, especially with her children and grandchildren.
Sophie also enjoyed spending time in her kitchen, listening to Elvis, camping, and spending time in the camper with Judy.
She leaves behind her husband, John; daughter, Kathy and her husband, Greg Downing; sons, Ken and wife, Karen, Kim and wife, Carla, and Carey and wife, Tammie; and grandchildren, Troy, Shannon, Kevin, and Scott Basaraba, and Johnathan Downing.
Also surviving are her brothers, Nick Melnychuk and wife, Olga, and Alec Melnychuk; sister, Mary and husband, Ilio Gushulak; brother-in-law, Pete Basaraba and wife, Polly; sister-in-law, Helen Kitzul; numerous nieces and nephews; very special friend, Heather Thompson; and close neighbours and friends, Lawrence and Judy Carter and their children.
Sophie was predeceased by her parents, Kost (Jack) and Wasylka Melnychuk.
A visitation will be held Sunday, June 9, 2002 from 7 until 9 p.m. at Green Funeral Home in Fort Frances.
Funeral services will be held Monday, June 10, 2002 at 10 a.m. at Green Funeral Home in Fort Frances. Very Reverend Father Jaroslaw Buciora will officiate, with interment in Riverview Cemetery in Fort Frances.
The pallbearers will be her grandsons, Troy, Shannon, Kevin, and Scott Basaraba, and Johnathan Downing, and her neighbour, Lawrence Carter.
If friends so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, Box 444, Fort Frances, Ont. P9A 3M8.
If Tomorrow Starts Without Me
If tomorrow starts without me, And I’m not there to see,
If the sun should rise and find your eyes All filled with tears for me;
I wish so much you wouldn’t cry The way you did today,
While thinking of the many things, We didn’t get to say.
I know how much you love me, As much as I love you,
And each time that you think of me, I know you’ll miss me too;
But when tomorrow starts without me, Please try to understand,
That an angel came and called my name,
And took me by the hand, And said my place was ready,
In heaven far above, And that I’d have to leave behind
All those I dearly love. But as I turned to walk away,
A tear fell from my eye. For all my life, I’d always thought,
I didn’t want to die. I had so much to live for,
So much left yet to do, It seemed almost impossible,
That I was leaving you. I thought of all the yesterdays,
The good ones and the bad, The thought of all the love we shared,
And all the fun we had. If I could relive yesterday,
Just even for awhile, I’d say good-bye and kiss you
And maybe see you smile. But then I fully realized,
That this could never be, For emptiness and memories,
Would take the place of me. And when I though of worldly things,
I might miss come tomorrow, I thought of you, and when I did,
My heart was filled with sorrow. But when I walked through heaven’s
gates, I felt so much at home.
When God looked and smiled at me,
From His great golden throne,
He said, “This is eternity”, And all I’ve promised you.”
Today your life on earth is past, But here life starts anew.
I promise no tomorrow, But today will always last,
And since each day’s the same way There’s no longing for the past.
You have been so faithful, so trusting and so true.
Though there were times you did some things
You knew you shouldn’t do. But you have been forgiven
And now at last you are free.
So won’t you come and take my hand And share my life with me?
So when tomorrow starts without me, Don’t think we’re far apart,
For every time you think of me, I’m right here, in your heart.
—Unknown