FAMILY, CLERGY AND FRIENDS BID FAREWELL TO ORYSIA TRACZ

His Grace, Metropolitan Lawrence led the Divine Liturgy and Panakhyda services on Monday evening for the late well-known researcher and promoter of Ukrainian folk culture - Orysia Tracz. Orysia and her husband, Deacon Myroslaw Tracz have been actively attending Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Parish for a number of years and this is where the funeral services and “tryzna” were held.

 

Orysia died unexpectedly, but peacefully at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg on 10 November 2016. Besides her loving husband, she leaves to mourn her three sons, Boyan, Dobryan, and Ruslan and other relatives and friends. Famous for her knowledge of all things Ukrainian and especially her ability to share her knowledge in a popular and enthusiastic manner, Orysia was invited to give lectures around the world. In fact, she was booked for a number of such engagements into next year. She will be missed in the community as a consultant on the origins of traditional Ukrainian customs, art and ritual.

 

Metropolitan Lawrence and a dozen other priests and deacons were on hand to lead a filled-to-capacity church and auditorium in bidding farewell to Orysia with centuries-old traditional prayer of the Ukrainian Church that she would have appreciated. Although parish cantor, David Hrehirchuk, led the responses and the Hoosli Ukrainian Male Chorus under the direction of Walter Skakun, led the Panakhyda, many in the congregation added their voices - filling the church will a powerful heartfelt prayer. Metropolitan delivered the homily in the church and Orysia’s three sons and sister spoke at the Parish Centre.

 

Interment was held the following morning at the columbarium of Holy Family Cemetery near East St. Paul just north of Winnipeg.

 

The Archeparchy offers their condolences to Deacon Myroslaw and the whole family.

God grant her eternal memory.