Anna Chopty

On Sunday August 13, 2000, Anna Chopty (nee Trach) went peacefully back to her Lord, shortly after celebrating her 96th birthday. She was born in Ivaniwka, Podillia province, Ukraine on July 30, 1904. She married Danylo Chopty, of the same village (he predeceased her on November 17, 1975). The Communists forced the family, including five young children from their beloved Ukraine in 1940. They worked in a forced labour camp near Archangelsk, (Former USSR), but the two youngest (Olya and Josephat) succumbed to starvation. The Chopty family escaped through what are now Uzbekistan and Iran, then was separated. Anna and her two surviving daughters lived in a refugee camp in Eastern Africa for six years. Danylo fought in WW11 for theAllies in Italy and Libya, while son Walter attended school in Palestine. They were reunited In England in 1947, before emigrating to Canada. After living for two years with relatives in Canora, Sask. , the family settle in Port Arthur. Anna will be fondly remembered as a loving, devoted and hard working person. Her beautiful garden won admiring looks from many passers-by. her faith was the centre of her life, and she was a founding member of the Church of the Holy Protection. She made countless dozens of pyrohy along with other members of the Ukrainian Catholic Women's League and was never too busy to help friends or parishioners, or to visit the sick. Numerous casues and organizations in the Ukrainian community benefited from her generosity.Her parents Karolko and Pelahia predeceased her in Ukraine, as did several brothers. Her husband Danylo and son-in-law Peter Kuzyk Sr. passed away in Canada. She is survived by son Walter, two daughters Mary Kuzyk and Jaroslava/Stephanie Romaniuk (Theodore). Grandchildren include John Kuzyk, Elaine Blando (Alexander), Peter Kuzk (Sandy), Hanusia Tkaczyk (Bohdan), Orysia Romaniuk, Michael Romaniuk (fiancee Olya Shender), Roman Romaniuk, Katherine Romaniuk and Andrew Romaniuk (dear friend Janice Brooks). Anna Chopty lived to enjoy eight great-grandchildren: Anna, Alexander and Adam Blando, Michael and Christine Kuzyk and Michael, Mark and Nicholas Tkaczyk. She also leaves behind a large extended family in Thunder Bay. Western Canada, U.S.A. and Ukraine. Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, August 16th, leaving the Harbourview Funeral Centre at 12:40 p.m. to the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Holy Protection, 289 North Court Street, for Funeral Mass at 1:00 p.m. celebrated by Rt. Rev. Msgr. Anton Szymychalski, assisted by Rev. Vladimir Chvets. Interment will follow in the family plot at St. Andrew's Catholic Cemetery. Panachyda will be offered on Tuesday evening (tonight) at 7:30 p.m. in the Chapel of Harbourview Funeral Centre, 499 North Cumberland Street. If friends so desire, donations may be made in Anna's memory to the Church of the Holy Protection Memorial Fund."