Obituary of Florence Shewchuk
To watch the mass for Florence Shewchuk, please CLICK HERE
Heaven gained another angel with the passing of Florence Shewchuk (nee Boyko) on April 7, 2026, at 99 years of age, just 3 months shy of 100. She was the most loving and caring mom and grandma that anyone could wish for. She will be greatly missed.
Florence was born July 11, 1926 at her parents’ farm home in Mountain Road, Manitoba, which is a rural area near Erickson. She was the second oldest of five children. Her parents were the late John and Annie (Kopeechuk) Boyko. She spent her childhood years on the farm and attended Hilltop School, a one-room school in the area, until she completed grade eight. Her family attended Mountain Road Ukrainian Catholic Church. As a young woman, she worked at a hotel in Minnedosa and was also hired in local people’s farm homes.
On February 8, 1947, Florence married Sam Shewchuk. Their wedding was in Winnipeg in a big blizzard! It was Florence’s first time in Winnipeg. Sam and Florence farmed in the Ozerna area, which is south of Sandy Lake. They had a mixed farm and a large garden. Besides growing grain, they also raised cattle, pigs, chickens, turkeys and sometimes ducks. Florence loved to cook as well as to can and freeze their home grown produce and meats. She didn’t need to buy very much at the grocery store! They were active members in St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in the Ozerna area. Florence was the president of their Ladies League for a few years.
In 1957, they had a daughter, Laurie. A typical Sunday afternoon for the family either involved a drive to explore a rural area or an afternoon at the beach at Clear Lake. After university, Laurie moved to Brandon, Manitoba. Sam had farm related allergies, such as grain dust and animal hair, so in 1982, they became “city folk” and also decided to move to Brandon, where they both lived for the rest of their lives. Sam and Florence became active members of the St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Brandon. Florence was a member of their Ladies League. Sam and Florence enjoyed many activities with their friends there, such as playing cards, bingo, etc.
While living in Brandon, they became grandparents and they loved that role immensely! Stephanie was born in 1987, Alyssa in 1991 and Luna (Lindsay) in 1993. When Laurie told Florence that she was expecting, Florence immediately offered to babysit! Florence greatly enjoyed living near her granddaughters. She spent many hours with them. She made countless batches of perogies, cabbage rolls, bread, cinnamon buns and other baking to pass along to her daughter and granddaughters. Her granddaughters had many good times at their house. They especially loved rolling down the hill in the back yard and eating fresh peas in the garden. Florence loved to sew, so she made several quilts for them as well. Florence loved to go camping with Laurie and the girls in the fifth wheel trailer at Minnedosa Beach every summer. Florence also loved to help and spend time with her daughter and grandchildren on vacations to places such as Ontario, Quebec, the Maritimes, New York, Washington and Orlando.
In her latter years, Florence got to enjoy the pleasures of becoming a great grandmother (Great Baba) to Astraea and Billy. With Astraea being a bit older, she was able to help Florence in her care home, such as by pushing her in her wheelchair. As a baby, Billy was unable to do things like that, but he sure brought a smile to her face when he was on her lap!
Florence and Sam enjoyed some nice vacations together after retirement, going to places such as Europe, Cancun (including Chichen Itza), the Maritimes and other places in Canada.
Florence’s love for sewing never ended but in her last few years, dementia made it challenging to use a sewing machine, so she continued to sew by hand, such as by making cloth grocery bags for her family. In those years, she also sewed buttons on some of her clothes to decorate them. For example, she would sew a few buttons under the neckline cuff of a sweatshirt. Anyone who wishes is encouraged to sew or pin on an extra button to wear like a brooch or corsage in her honour at her celebration of life.
Florence was pre-deceased by her parents, John and Annie Boyko, her sisters Mary (Mike) and Christine (Pete), her brother Victor and her husband Sam. She is survived by her brother Elmer, daughter Laurie (Art), granddaughters Stephanie, Alyssa (Will), and Luna as well as great-grandchildren Astraea and Billy.
After her husband Sam died in 2013, Florence remained in their home until she was 95 years of age. She loved to putter in her house and yard. A neighbour said that her dandelions didn’t stand a chance! She needed minimal help, with family mowing her lawn and clearing her snow and checking on her every day with calls and visits. However, at 95, dementia was becoming a concern and she moved to Valleyview Personal Care Home.
Just as firefighters go into a building when everyone else is leaving, the care home staff look after people whose physical and mental abilities have declined to the point where they and their families are unable to care for them. Florence’s family has immense gratitude for the loving care given to her in her final years at Valleyview.
Divine Liturgy will be held at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, 927 Assiniboine Avenue, Brandon, Manitoba, on Friday April 17, 2026 at 11:00 a.m., followed by a luncheon at the Ukrainian Reading Association Hall, next door to the church. Interment will be held at Rosewood Memorial Gardens, west of Brandon.
Donations in memory of Florence may be made to the St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church, 927 Assiniboine Ave., Brandon, MB, R7A 0G7 or to a charity of choice.
Thank you to Brockie Donovan Funeral Home for all they have done to make this difficult time so much easier.
Vichnaya Pamyat! (Eternal Memories.)
