Obituary of Irene Lillian Momotiuk

IRENE MOMOTIUK (Nee Martyniuk)<br/><br/>Irene Lillian Momotiuk passed away peacefully the morning of January 16, 2021. Irene is survived by her husband of 53 years, Harry Momotiuk (retired Justice of the Ontario Court of Justice) and their three children, Karen Momotiuk Chapman (Bill Chapman), Greg Momotiuk (Angela Momotiuk) and David Momotiuk. Survived by her incredible family-in-law: Carolyn Ewasyshyn and Dr Frank Ewasyshyn, Dolores and Robert Chachula with their sons Michael (Carolyn) and Andrew (Sophia) and her sister in law Dr Mary Ewasyshyn. She was a devoted Babchi to grandchildren Harrison Boyer, and Avery and Alivia Momotiuk. She loved attending all of their sports, activities and special events and did so with pride. She especially loved watching them play football, painting and swimming.<br/><br/>Irene was born on February 4, 1944 in Detroit, Michigan to her parents, Frank Martyniuk and Lillian Martyniuk (nee Filas). With her dad serving as a doctor overseas during WWII she and her family, sisters Lydia (Stempski) and Stasia (Coffield) and brother Joseph (Martyniuk) spent a great deal of time with extended family in Michigan with their mother, Lillian. After the war the family relocated to Hamilton, Ontario. Irene attended Adelaide Hoodless and Mount Mary Academy, where she was captain of her basketball team, played piano and danced with Chaika Ukrainian Dance Ensemble. She also worked at Soyuzivka Ukrainian Heritage Centre and Camp for three summers in upstate New York. She attended St. Joseph’s Nursing School in Hamilton and began a career in nursing that spanned three decades, first with an obstetrician’s office and at the Hospital in Ann Arbor, MI and later in occupational health (at both Ford and GM) and with the Victorian Order of Nurses in Windsor, ON.<br/><br/>When Irene was 23, the father of her best friend introduced her to Harry Momotiuk at a Ukrainian Graduates’ banquet in 1968. They were married shortly afterwards. “Harry and Irene” have been inseparable for the past 53 years. <br/><br/>Irene was energetic, organized and intensely creative. She enjoyed painting, poetry, and the performing arts, particularly the symphony and the ballet. She loved to welcome friends and family to her home because entertaining was her expression of how much she loved them. She spent time selecting incredible menus and had a fondness for Ukrainian and French cooking. She loved the holidays, and effortlessly hosted the entire family for decades. <br/><br/>She was a beloved member of the Ukrainian community in Windsor and fostered so many Ukrainian Canadian traditions. She volunteered with the St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, and helped to make perohy, borscht and cabbage rolls at UNO Hall on Ottawa Street. She was a committee member when the millennium of Christianity in Ukraine was celebrated at a Gala in Windsor in 1988. She helped raise funds for the Children of Chornobyl Canadian Relief Fund in 1990. She was also the co-chair of the efforts of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress to erect the granite monument in Jackson Park commemorating the Holodomor, the great famine in Ukraine (1932-1933). She was also the Vice President of the Ukrainian Women’s Organization (OYK, Windsor Branch).<br/><br/>She was proudest of being the host of “Sounds of Ukraine”, a Ukrainian radio program on CJAM FM radio. She would broadcast, live, almost every Saturday from the University of Windsor campus for 26 years, continuing Ukrainian musical traditions, poetry, live interviews and tributes to Ukrainian historical figures.<br/><br/>She was awarded the honour of “Ukrainian of the Year” by the Ukrainian Graduate’s Club of Windsor and Detroit in 2007.<br/><br/>Irene was passionate about seeing the world and she and Harry travelled far and wide within Canada and internationally. She was incredibly sharp and organized, and relentlessly researched trips to ensure she covered as many locations and historical sites as she could fit into the day. She loved all of her trips, and enjoyed closing the day with great meals, great wine and incredible photographs to bring home.<br/><br/>A private family service will take place. Arrangements entrusted to WINDSOR CHAPEL (Banwell Chapel) 11677 Tecumseh Rd. 519-253-7234. <br/><br/>In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of Windsor, whose tireless support was immense comfort to her family. The family also wishes to thank the Village at St. Clair (Schlegel) for the loving care she received from all the personal support workers, nurses, doctors, support and administrative staff, and the food service staff whose meals were thoroughly enjoyed by her.<br/><br/>In her later years, she would often say to everyone “You do what makes you happy!” It is our fervent hope that Irene’s memory will bring a smile to your face before it brings a tear to your eye.<br/><br/>Online condolences and cherished memories may be shared with the family at www.windsorchapel.com<br/> If you wish to be present during the prayers at 7pm, please tune in to the live-stream. This link will go live at 7 p.m. on January, 21, 2021. In order to watch, please copy the following link into your web browser: https://youtu.be/woXC5adVeVM If you wish to be present during the private funeral service, please tune in to the live-stream. This link will go live at 1 p.m. on January 22, 2021. In order to watch, please copy the following link into your web browser: https://youtu.be/j8Erhsww9_Y