Myroslava (myra) Birakowsky Obituary

Myroslava (myra) Birakowsky attended Sisler High School in Winnipeg, MB. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Myroslava (myra) Birakowsky.

Graduation Year	Class of 1958
Date of Passing	Jan 26, 2023
About	MYROSLAVA (MYRA) HRENCHYSHYN (nee BIRAKOWSKY) February 21, 1939 – January 26, 2023 Myra, age 83, passed away on January 26 at Mercy Hospital in Minneapolis, with her daughter Taissa and her sister Vera holding her hands. Myra was predeceased by her parents, Michael and Eugenia, her husband Dr. Stephan Hrenchyshyn, and her brother-in-law Ronald Marchuk. Myra was born in the city of Stryj in western Ukraine. Europe was still at war in 1944 and Myra, five years old, her sister 10 months old and her parents had to flee their homeland because her father was politically immersed and the family would probably be arrested, executed or sent to Siberia. As bombs kept exploding with the possessions they could carry, they took a wagon with two horses and crossed the Carpathian mountains and boarded the trains that were still heading west. They reached Germany and settled in an old medieval town, Rothenburg ob der Tauber. The first house they lived in was bombed but everyone escaped. A generous person gave them the second floor of his house. Myra went to school, learned German and some English because the American allies had arrived and the war was ending in 1945. Here Myra found a new country, a new culture and a new language but she survived. By October 1948 it was time to move again to another new country, culture and language. In November of 1948 the family arrived on the ship Samaria in Halifax with other refugees and boarded a train to Winnipeg. Myra adopted her new country Canada but always kept her Ukrainian heritage alive. She became part of the Ukrainian community - "Plast" summer camps as both participant and counsellor at Ukrainian Park, art, ballet and piano lessons, and Ukrainian theatre as organized by Cecil Semchyshyn. She excelled at everything because of her talent and artistry. Myra graduated from Sisler High School and attended University of Manitoba in the Fine Arts program. In 1968 she married Dr. Stephan Hrenchyshyn DMV and moved to Minneapolis. Again a new country, but at least a new language was not a problem. Later Myra attended Anoka Ramsey Community College for two years and during her spare time tutored students in French and German grammar. She then transferred to St. Catherine's college and graduated in 1994. Myra was very artistic not only with her sewing, her wardrobe, but also at pottery, watercolours, oil painting and decorating her own home beautifully. After her daughter Taissa left to study in Chicago, Myra began a new career in retail at Dayton Hudson / Marshall Field's / Macy's in Rosedale. She worked there until March 2020 when COVID devastated the world. Myra was an insatiable reader in all of her languages, but she especially loved to work in her flower garden. She travelled to Italy, France, England and with her sister to Germany and Ukraine. Myra was blessed with three wonderful neighbours who were always there to help her as her health declined. They were her three guardian angels. Myra was a parishioner of the Ukrainian Catholic Church of St. Constantine and she kept her faith in the Lord to the very end. The English poet John Donne wrote "One short sleep past / we wake eternally". Cremation has taken place, interment will be in the spring when the world awakens with the flowers in the fields. Donations in Myra's memory to any charity of your choice. One day all who love you, Myra, will see and be with you again because Love is stronger than Death and our connection with you is forever. Vichnaya Pamyat As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 04, 2023