Mary (Maria) Katchmar

Maria Pavlivna (Mary, née Zaika) Katchmar - Born 1925 in the village of Pavlivka of Cherkasy Oblast, Ukraine to Pavlo Andrievich and Maria (née Shavbush). Maria was one of ten known siblings, most of whom were separated from their parents and did not survive the Soviet-imposed Holodomor famine of 1932-33. She was predeceased by her husband Michael (2009) and youngest son Taras (2016). Maria is survived by her son Roman (Marijka), daughter Stephanie (Morris), and three grandchildren: Nicholas (Jennifer), Andrei (Krissy) and Gregory (Christina). She was great-grandmother to her beloved Ethan, Julian, Adria, Khye, Aviana, Jacob, Walter and Lydia.

Maria volunteered for over 50 years with the Ukrainian Catholic Women's League in Ottawa and was a founding contributor to the CYM community center, as well as St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Shrine. Having experienced famine herself, Maria took pride in her garden, preserving and cooking to ensure that none of her loved ones ever left her home without a meal and something extra for another day. She served as a cook for the many children attending CYM and St. John’s church camps at Lac Newcombe and countless church bazaars.

Since late 2009, Maria had been living out her years in Etobicoke. She played her last bingo game on May 21st when she lit her prayer candles from her winnings and quietly passed away on the morning of May 24th. We would like to express our utmost gratitude to the staff at the Ukrainian-Canadian Care Center, Maria’s medical support staff and doctors, and the many friends who made her feel like an extension of their own family.

Panachyda and funeral mass will be held at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Shrine, 952 Green Valley Crescent on Monday, June 3rd at 10:00 a.m. Interment Pinecrest Cemetery. A reception will follow in the parish hall at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Shrine. Donations in her memory can be made to the BCU foundation "Ukraine Humanitarian Aid Fund" to support fallen soldiers and families in the ongoing terror of Russia's unprovoked invasion in Ukraine. https://bcufoundation.com/donate-today/

May she rest peacefully and be forever in God's Kingdom. We love you Mama, Baba and Pra-Baba. Vichnaya Pamyat!

To find out more information on the holodomors survivors please cut and paste this link:

http://www.holodomorsurvivors.ca/