Olivia (Yarema) Marceniuk

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Olivia Olga Marceniuk (Yarema) of Dauphin, Manitoba, formerly of Sifton, Manitoba, on Friday June 19th, 2020 at the age of 90 years. Olivia died peacefully at the Dauphin Personal Care Home.

Olivia was born on February 13th, 1930 at the Dauphin Hospital. Olivia was the middle child of 7 born to Andrew and Helen (Boychuk) Yarema of Fishing River, MB. Olivia spent much of her childhood working on the family farm milking cows, picking stones, gardening and cooking. Olivia attended Norton School near Fishing River, MB.

Olivia met Paul at a baseball game one summer and were married on June 12th, 1954

Olivia and Paul spent their weekends enjoying the company of their friends and relatives. They would attend dances regularly at the Sifton Community Hall where they would dance the night away together.

Olivia lived on the farm for almost 40 years, raising her 3 children, Gail, Cynthia and Brad, working the farm and welcoming family and friends to their home. Olivia was very close with her children, whom she was so proud of and loved dearly. 

Olivia lived on the farm with Paul until his sudden passing in 1984. Olivia and her son Brad who was 15 years old at the time, remained on the farm together, taking care of each other and continuing the daily operations

In 1991, Olivia sold the farm and moved to her new home in Dauphin. It was during this time that Olivia began to embrace new and old hobbies. Olivia loved to cook and to feed people, and she was very good at it. She would spend the next 20 years catering for small and large functions. Some events dear to her heart include canasta nights and hosting dinner parties with friends and singing in the church choir. Olivia had fond memories of all the years she sang with the Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival Choir. She loved to sing Ukrainian folk songs. 

Olivia served on the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League for almost 30 years. During her years on the committee, Olivia probably pinched over a million perogies in the church kitchen with her friends. 

Olivia also enjoyed travelling to visit her relatives in far away places. She took many trips to visit Cynthia and her family in Yukon and Alberta, visited her sister Kay in Texas, visited her sister Vicky in Illinois, visited Disneyland with Gail and her family, took a holiday in Hawaii with Cynthia and her family, and even with Brad and Val to England to visit her niece. 

Olivia was very proud of all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She spoke highly of all their achievements, and enjoyed showing visitors her fridge where she liked to show off pictures of her grandchildren. She loved to attend all the Ukrainian dance concerts to watch her grandchildren dance. Olivia took up golf when she was 70 years old.

Olivia is survived by her daughter, Gail (Ron) Slobodzian, daughter Cynthia (Glen) Plustwa and son Brad (Val) Marceniuk. She was blessed with 6 grandchildren, Jennifer, Jeffrey (Shelayne), Ryan (Brittany), Jordan, Katie, and Joel, and 2 great-grandchildren, Ivanna and Brodan. She also leaves to cherish her memory, sisters Vicky (John) Martin, Virginia Yakimishen, brother Morley (Verna) Yarema, many special nieces and nephews, extended family and friends that were a very important part of her life. 

Olivia is predeceased by her husband Paul Marceniuk, sister Kay Jaggers, brother John Yarema, and brother Willard Yarema.

Вічная Пам’ять, Vichnaya Pamyat, may Olivia rest in eternal peace.

A private Panakhyda service took place on Wednesday June 24th for immediate family. A come and go visitation/viewing for Olivia took place from 7:00 - 8:00 pm on  Wednesday June 24th at the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Resurrection in Dauphin, MB. 

A Funeral Liturgy  was held for Olivia on Thursday June 25th, 2020 at 11am at the Sneath-Strilchuk Family Care Centre in Dauphin with Very Rev Father Oleg Bodnarski Officiating. Interment will follow at the Riverside Cemetery. Pallbearers were Jeff Slobodzian, Ryan Plustwa, Gerald Yakimishen, Darrell Yarema, Chris Sharna, Michael Marcynuk.

Should friends so desire, donations in memory of Olivia may be made to Preservation Committee of the Historic Church of the Resurrection  Box 121 Dauphin, MB  R7N 2T9

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