OBITUARY: Mary Yuzyk, wife of the late senator (09/04/05)

OBITUARY

Mary Yuzyk, wife of the late senator

OTTAWA - Mary Yuzyk (nee Bahniuk), wife of the late Sen. Paul Yuzyk, who was known as the "father of multiculturalism," passed away on August 17 in her 91st year.

The Yuzyks were married on July 12, 1941, in Hafford, Saskatchewan in a traditional Ukrainian wedding ceremony.

Sen. Yuzyk, who drafted Canada's multiculturalism policy and occupied a seat in the Senate for 23 years, died on July 9, 1986, at the age of 73. Sen. Yuzyk was the first Ukrainian to be appointed to the Canadian Parliament's upper chamber; he delivered his maiden speech, titled "Canada: A Multicultural Nation," on March 3, 1964.

Sen. Yuzyk was active also in Ukrainian community affairs, serving as chairman of the Human Rights Commission of the World Congress of Free Ukrainians. In 1970 he was elected as the Ukrainian National Association's supreme vice-president for Canada; later his position's title was changed to supreme director for Canada.

Sen. Yuzyk was founder and first president of the Ukrainian National Youth Federation and a founder of the Canadian Association of Slavists and the Ukrainian Canadian University Students Union.

Surviving are Mrs. Yuzyk are her children Eve Duravetz, Vicki Karpiak, Vera Yuzyk and Ted Yuzyk, with his wife, Lucya; grandchildren Tanya, Larisa, Paul, Thea, Lukash and Paula; and great grandchild Gabriel; as well as her sister, Helen Topolnyski, with her husband, Nick; and brother Joe Bahniuk, with his wife, Stella.

The funeral liturgy was offered on August 20 at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Shrine in Ottawa. Interment followed at Pinecrest Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Shrine or a charity of choice. Tributes, condolences or memories may be made at www.tubmanfuneralhomes.com.

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