Julianna MIKUS

HLUCHY, Julianna 2008-09-18 1908 – 2008 We would like to share our Mom‘s reminiscences as related to us by her on a warm Autumn Day at Oliver Lake many years ago. Our mother was born in Lutila, Czechoslovakia on December 3, 1908, the first child of Joseph and Anna Mikus, in an unheated room with one little window and was delivered by a midwife . In 1911, Julia‘s brother Josef was born and spent his life in Lutila. She had the privilege of visiting him and his family in Europe three times after 1962. He predeceased her in 1995. She was educated in her small village and went to High School in Kremnica and was an accomplished scholar. She left with her father to work in Paris, France for a year. When she returned, there was an article advertising jobs for young women to work. Julia thought it was a wonderful opportunity and took the challenge in search of a better life. Money was borrowed to send our adventurous mother to Canada. She traveled by train to Holland‘s Rotterdam Port where a steam liner transported her across the ocean. After some bad weather and many prayers, they arrived in Halifax on June 2nd 1928 and then went on to Winnipeg. She was very lonely there and was told that there were a few people from her village in Fort William, so she ventured here and found employment. She stayed with the Grigal Family and met Alexander Hluchy and a romance started. They married the same year. After 53 years of marriage and the struggle of the learning of the English Language by going to night school, the life experience of the depression, a new social climate, life was good to her and her descendents, her two daughters, Rosemary and Violet, her six grandchildren, ten great grandchildren and a great-great-grand-daughter. Julianna had a great love for life, history, cooking and gardening. She has been an inspiration to all. She stayed in her own home until she was 90 and when she could not take care of her garden any longer she moved to Pinewood Court where she passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 14, 2008. Surviving are her loving family, Rosemary and Pat Kelly, Violet and Walter Bahry, grandchildren, Rosemary & Bruce Stover, Patrick & Sharon Kelly, Gerald and Sharon Kelly, Elizabeth and Pat Haner, Joseph Bahry and Joselyn Bahry. great grandchildren, Robert & Amanda Stover, Michael Kelly, Colin Stover, Caitlind and Ryan Geddes, Andrea Haner, Kelly Ann Stover, Jennifer Kelly, Gerald Kelly, Tom Haner and Whitney Kelly. She is also survived by great-great granddaughter, Grace Geddes. She was predeceased by her husband Alexander on January 10, 1982, infant children, Paula and Viola, parents, Josef and Anna Mikus, and her brother Josef. She was a member of St. Peter‘s Roman Catholic Church and a founding member of the Royal Canadian Slovak Legion Ladies‘ Auxiliary. Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 19, 2008 when family and friends will gather for the Funeral Mass in St. Peter’s Church at 1:00 pm celebrated by Rev. Wayne Bolton s.j. Interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery. Vigil prayers will be offered on Thursday, evening at 8:00 pm in the Blake Funeral Chapel. Donations to Pinewood Court Recreation Fund or to a charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated. A tree will be planted in memory of Julianna Hluchy in the Blake Funeral Chapel Memorial Grove. Annual dedication service Sunday, June 28, 2009.