Casimir KOLODYCHUK

KOLODYCHUK, Brother Casimir,
OFM (RIP)
Casimir wanted to live to 100 years of age, and God blessed him with this wish. He was born on September 17th, 1912, to John and Anna (Frebrowski) Kolodychuk, in Haight, Alberta, and was baptized "Rudolph" in Mundare, Alberta. Casimir had 16 brothers and sisters, of whom four died in infancy and four entered religious life. Rudy (baptized "Alexander") also joined the Franciscans; and three sisters (Katherine, Sophie, and Rosie) entered the Benedictines. He is survived by his youngest brother, Don Kirby, of Burnaby, BC.
Casimir first came into contact with the Franciscan community when he attended high school at St. Anthony's College, in Edmonton, Alberta, from 1927 to 1932, and was received into the Franciscan Order in Sherbrooke, Quebec, a little more than 80 years ago, in August, 1932. He made first profession of vows on August 13, 1933, and was solemnly professed on the same date three years later, in 1936. From 1933 to 1938 Casimir studied philosophy and theology in Quebec City and Montreal, before moving to the Franciscan community in Vancouver. He then returned to St. Anthony's College, Edmonton, in 1941. With the exception of a two year stint in Cochrane (1961-63) Casimir (often referred to as "Brother Kilowatt") lived and worked at the college - caring for the heating and maintenance until 2005, when the friars sold the college and moved to a new residence on Jasper Avenue.
Shortly following the feast of St. Francis in October, 2011, Casimir fell and broke his hip. After three months of rehabilitation at Grandview Hospital he was moved to Norwood Nursing Home in early 2012, where he died peacefully on November 17th, 2012 (the Feast of St. Elizabeth). The Edmonton Franciscans want to thank the staffs at both Grandview and Norwood for the excellent care extended to Casimir.
Funeral prayers will be held at St. Clare's Roman Catholic Church, 6310 - 118 Avenue, in Edmonton, AB, at 7:00 p.m., on Thursday, November 22nd. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at St. Clare's Church, on Friday, November 23rd, at 10:00 a.m. Burial to follow at the Franciscan Cemetery, at Mount St. Francis Retreat, in Cochrane, Alberta.
Memorial donations may be made to the Franciscan Education Fund, 8106 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T5H 3S1.
May our brother in Christ rest in God's peace.
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