FOUNDING MATRIARCH OF KORBAN HOME REPOSES IN THE LORD
May 20, 2020
Helen Sylvia Korban (nee Budzan)
1929-2020
It was with sadness and a sense that an era has once again passed into the annals of history when the news that Helen Korban had died. It was she who, together with her husband Martin, established the Korban Funeral Chapel that served so many members of Manitoba's Ukrainian community - including many faithful of the Archeparchy of Winnipeg. The tentative plan for her funeral is that it will take place on Friday. And even though it will be a "Covid-19 funeral" - i.e. fewer than 10 participants - it is certain that many people will be there 'in spirit' as the funeral ministry that she founded has touched the lives of so many. The Korban Funeral Chapel has since been handed over to other proprietors and is going bigger and stronger than ever. But every successful endeavour has humble beginnings and Helen and her family made those beginnings with love and dedication and grew it into a local institution. The Archeparchy is grateful for that.
The family has shared some additional information and when a more complete obituary is published, it will be added.
Helen Sylvia Budzan was born in Winnipeg, September 18, 1929 and was raised on Hallet Street in Point Douglas. She attended St. Nicholas School where she met her future husband Martin.
In 1977, Helen left her position at the City of Winnipeg to join her husband in opening Korban Funeral Chapel, where they, along with their son Richard, served the Ukrainian and greater Winnipeg community in the funeral needs for close to 40 years.
Helen and her family were involved in all aspects of life at the Ukrainian National Federation on Main Street and she truly loved singing with the O. Koshetz Choir where she made lifelong friends. She was involved with the Ukraine-Kyiv pavilion since its inception and served on the Orlan Ukrainian Folk Ensemble Board of Directors. Helen was also a member of the UCWLC at St. Nicholas Church and a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of Holy Family Home, but the majority of her volunteer time was spent with OYK, the Ukrainian Womens' Association of the UNF.
Helen's faith was central to her life, attending Sts. Volodmyr and Olha Cathedral and St. Andrew's Parish in her youth, and attending Holy Eucharist Parish when they moved to East Kildonan where they raised their three children: Joanne, Robert and Richard. For the past 40 years, St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Parish was her home Parish until she moved to 'the Tower' adjacent to Holy Family Home. She faithfully participated in the Divine Liturgy at Holy Family Home whenever it was available - Sundays and Weekdays - until her passing.
Вічна їй Пам'ять! Eternal Memory! Христос Воскрес!
