Theophila RIFFKO

Mrs. Theophila "Phyllis" Halchuk - August 14, 2008 - Phyllis was born in Winnipeg to George and Julia (Bogusz) Riffko who were recent immigrants from Ukraine (then part of the Austrian Empire). The family lived in the Transcona area, and Phyllis graduated from Transcona High School which then ended at grade ten, but still an incredible achievement for a first generation Canadian girl. Phyllis married Anthony Halchuk, a recent immigrant from Chernivtsy, Ukraine. Anthony worked at the Dominion Malting Plant in Transcona, and since it was the depth of The Great Depression in Canada, they felt very fortunate to have a steady income for their start in life. They had to learn to be very frugal to make ends meet as they started their family which grew to include three sons and a daughter. Anthony was a skilled carpenter and grew a bountiful garden each summer to supply the family with food for the entire year. Phyllis learned to preserve and store every edible from the garden; and also to sew, knit, crochet—all skills that served the family very well. The proudest moments for Phyllis and Anthony were when each of their four children graduated from the University of Manitoba; first Richard, followed by William, Donald, and Theresa. While Phyllis was raising her family she was also active in UCWLC at St Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Transcona. Phyllis was widowed at age 64, and courageously decided to stay on in her home. She learned to grow a bountiful garden, learned to drive a car, to paint the entire interior of her house. All the self-sufficiency skills she had acquired during the Depression continued to be useful to her. She also joined clubs for socializing and learned to quilt, and also found companions to travel with. At age 83, she decided to sell her house, and moved to Richmond where the climate was milder and her son William (Bill) lived. In Richmond she joined the Ukrainian Catholic Church and the UCWLC. Phyllis will be lovingly remembered for her sweet, gentle shyness, steadfast courage, and incredible skills at self sufficiency by son Richard, Ottawa; son William (wife Mary), Richmond; grandson Kevin (Nancy) great grandchildren Natasha and Max, Kelowna; grand-daughters Leticia, Vancouver, and Jennifer, Toronto; son Donald (Lorraine), Ottawa, grandchildren: Pauline, Australia; Andrew, Ottawa; Peter (Rebecca) Ottawa; Marie, Montreal; Alex, Ottawa; daughter Theresa (Husband Leo Fedoriw), Edmonton; granddaughter Larissa (Michael Symyrozum), Terrace; granddaughter Laura, Edmonton.