William POLUHA

POLUHA, William (Billy) 2009-11-26 It is with heavy hearts that the family of William (Bill) Poluha announces the passing of their beloved husband, father, and Dido at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre on November 23, 2009 from complications of pneumonia. Bill had suffered a severe traumatic brain injury as a result of a bicycle accident on July 9, 2002. Despite his communication and mobility impairments, Bill lived the last 7 years of his life with dignity, determination, and quiet grace. Bill was born on March 12, 1924 to Teodor and Paraska Poluha in the village of Starechy, Ukraine. In the 1930‘s Bill‘s father came to Canada to work in bush camps near Fort William with the intention of bringing his family to Canada but was unable to do so once WW2 began. Bill had the responsibility of looking after his mother and two younger brothers. At the age of 16, Bill was taken by the Nazis to a work farm near Nuremburg, Germany where he was held until the end of the war. In 1947 his father was able to bring Bill to Canada. Bill was married in 1949 to Jennie Dereniwski and they raised one daughter and two sons. Bill worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway for 32 years, retiring in 1986. Prior to his accident, Bill was active at home, in his church, and in the Ukrainian community. He enjoyed working in his garden, maintaining his house, reading, and traveling to see his children and grandchildren. Bill had been a member of the Fort William Prosvita Society, Port Arthur Prosvita Seniors, Slovak Legion Seniors, and Seniors Bowling. Bill sang with the various Ukrainian choirs for 50 years, most recently the Fort William Prosvita Mixed Choir. He was a long time member of St. Mary‘s Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and most recently, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of St. Volodymyr. Bill is survived by his wife Jennie; daughter Pat (Minneapolis); sons Don (Cindy) (Eden Prairie); Eugene (Laurie) (Woodbury); grandchildren Lauren, Kate, Sarah, and Sean; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Nick and Stella Chomut; Paul and Shirley Dereniwski; Mary Zdebiak, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents; brothers Ivan and Stefan; father-in-law and mother-in-law Stephen and Katherine Dereniwski. Prayers will be offered at the Blake Funeral Chapel at 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 26, 2009. Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, November 27, 2009 at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of St. Volodymyr, 1502 Mountdale Avenue. The Very Reverend Jaroslav Buciora will officiate. As expressions of sympathy, donations may be made in Bill‘s memory to Wesway, the Ukrainian Church of St. Volodymyr, or a charity of one‘s choice. The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Dr. M. Mymko, Dr. M. Mangatal, the Internal Medicine Staff and the nurses of 3A at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. Special thanks to Ron Brown and Darryl Ecker, Bill‘s dedicated PSW‘s, Connie Sakiyama, Adam Semeniuk, and Pauline Fogarty of Wesway, and Dan and the Pharmacy Staff at Zeller‘s InterCity. A tree will be planted in memory of Mr. William Poluha in the Blake Funeral Chapel Memorial Grove. Annual dedication service Sunday, June 27, 2010. On-line Condolences may be sent to www.blakefuneralchapel.com