Anna and Wyamond McIntyre

Anna McIntyre (born Rystephanuk) (1923-2015)

and

Wyamond McIntyre (1925-2017)

Anna may be spelt Anne, Ann.

Suceavsky may be spelt Suchavsky.

Early life of Anna Rystephanuk

On 11 March, 1923, Anna Rystephanuk was born on the family farm near Sandy Lake, Manitoba, Canada. She was one of the 4 children of Nikifor Rystephanuk and Tatiana Derhak. Nikifor Rystephanuk and Tatiana Derhak had immigrated to Canada from Ukraine in 1900 and 1902, and they were married in Sandy Lake. They learnt to speak English when Anna, and her siblings, Maria (Marion), Olga (Elsie), and Dmytro (Metro), attended Mount Calm School (No. 772) in the Rural Municipality of Harrison, Manitoba.

The children were raised in a pious Orthodox Christian home. Thus, on Feast-days or on Sundays, only the essential farm chores were done, and if possible, they went to the Temple of Saint Nicholas for worship. The most important daily duty of the children was to say their prayers every morning and evening. In this environment, she and her siblings grew up in a loving relationship with the Lord, and with His Church.

Family history ; formation

Anna’s father, Nikifor Rystephanuk, and her maternal grandfather, Dmytro Derhak were, each one, one of the several founders (1900) of Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church north of the village of Sandy Lake.

Sandy Lake is situated 102 km (63 mi) northwest of Brandon, Manitoba ; 99 km (62 mi) southwest of Dauphin, Manitoba ; 265 km (165 mi) northwest of Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Anna was greatly influenced by Dmytro, who was the cantor (“dyak”) who helped the priests perform the liturgical services. It made a profound impression on Anna when she learnt that Dmytro had been one of the first Ukrainian Canadians to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, to Mount Athos, and to Palestine and the Holy Land in 1929. In those days, this undertaking would have required at least several months to accomplish. All travel was by surface, which meant that on land, railways were the main means of transportation, and all inter-continental travel was by ship (which required at least a week for crossing the Atlantic Ocean). It was usual to travel amongst the Mediterranean countries also by sea.

Her family’s joy was to go (by buggy on Sundays and by sleigh at Christmas and Easter) to the church services, and then go to the home of her Derhak grandparents with her cousins afterwards. Dmytro would gather his grandchildren after the service, and he would explain the Gospel readings for that Sunday. Dmytro’s wife Hafia (Sheeshka) would give them candies as a treat, so that was even better. As well, she felt very close to her paternal grandparents, Petro and Phylena (Mizenchuk) Rystephanuk, and she spent plenty of time on their homestead.

Grave of Petro Rystephanuk, wife Phylena Mizenchuk

Anna received her primary and secondary education at Sandy Lake, but she had a considerably supplemented education within her own family.

One of the important lessons which she learnt through living example was that of mutual respect. Although Petro Rystephanuk and Dmytro Derhak did not belong to the same parish (Petro was Ukrainian Catholic, Dmytro was Orthodox), there was never a disagreement about who went to what Church.

Move to Winnipeg ; education ; work

As she grew older, Anna desired to go to Winnipeg to obtain a better education, even though most of her extended family remained in Sandy Lake. She later said that she had felt extremely lonely in Winnipeg, and especially when her instructors told her that, in order to get a proper job, she must Anglicise her last name. She was extremely proud of her unique ancestral name, so she never did change it. Nevertheless, she did make her way with her original surname into the job market. She worked at the company called Gypsum Lime.

Saint Nicholas Church

Interior of the Temple of Saint Nicholas, at Pascha

Worship in the city

It was important for her to find an Orthodox church in which to worship ; and soon afterwards, she did this. She enjoyed singing in the choir at Saint Ivan Suceavsky (Suchavsky) Church at Main Street and Selkirk Avenue. Although she could not read music, she would memorise the melodies and words. In Winnipeg, she also met her future husband Wyamond McIntyre.

Saint John (Ivan) Suceavsky Church, Winnipeg

Early life of Wyamond McIntyre

On 25 May, 1925, Wyamond McIntyre was born to John McIntyre and Helena Baker on a farm near Ridgedale, in northeastern Saskatchewan. There were other children born to them : Murray, Marguerite, Emily, Morris, Alvin and Lois.

Wyamond was named after his great-uncle Wyamond Wessels (an English name which in mediaeval form was Wygmund). This Canadian McIntyre family was descended from Captain Duncan McIntyre, who had emigrated from Port Appin, Scotland, to Ontario in 1800. His son John (born 1829) married Nancy Anne McPhail in Wooler, Ontario, and their son Daniel (born 1849) married Elmira Wessels (of a "Pennyslvania Dutch" family, who were United Empire Loyalists). Their son John McIntyre married Helena Baker, and after their marriage, they moved to Ridgedale, Saskatchewan, in order to begin farming. They settled in the Leather River district, south of the village.

Wyamond was raised in a Christian family, and he received his primary and early secondary education at the Leather River Public School, in the Leather River District where the farm was situated. He was able to complete only Grade 9, because of the circumstances of life. Despite the early end to his schooling, Wyamond had become very competent in mathematics, and his skill (besides his own further private studies) would provide him with enough competence to be able to find work and to keep it.

The McIntyre siblings were all musically able, along with their parents, and they created plenty of their own entertainment. Wyamond learnt to play the guitar, as did other siblings, and others played the violin. There was regularly the sound of guitars, violins and singing in the family home. Wyamond and his sister Lois would often play and sing at local social gatherings. Like many a youth, Wyamond very much enjoyed riding his horse (his loyal horse "King") bareback.

When he had grown up enough, Wyamond travelled to Winnipeg in order to find work with the Canadian National Railways (CNR). Although he was laid off before long, he found long-term employment with "Canadian Linen", and then with "Quinton's Limited". There, he became a supervisor, and he was in charge of accounts. Finally, he worked at WesTrans Automotive.

Wyamond met Anna at a Main Street dance-hall where Anna regularly socialised with her Sandy Lake cousins and her new Winnipeg friends. Before they made their final commitment to marry, Anna took her "English" Wyamond to Sandy Lake in order to meet her Rystephanuk-Derhak family. At that time, Canadian Ukrainian women tended to marry only other Ukrainians. Because the family took care to speak only English in his presence, he greatly respected Anna's family. They heartily embraced Wyamond, and his willingness to toast with "home-brew" confirmed the mutual respect and acceptance.

Marriage, 1949

On 16 July, 1949, Anna Rystephanuk was married to Wyamond McIntyre at the Saint John of Suceava Church in Winnipeg.

Marriage, 1949

After the marriage, Anna and Wyamond received from the Lord their daughter Linda in 1953. She was to be their only child, and Anna became a full-time mother. They ensured that Linda had the best education possible in both the Orthodox Church and in school.

Anna and Wyamond continued for most of their lives to be members and supporters of the Saint John Suceavsky parish. They also spent many summer week-ends in Sandy Lake, where Wyamond would gladly help the family with farming chores. Wyamond never ceased to be amazed at the generosity and hospitality of Anna's family. They also regularly visited Wyamond's family in Saskatchewan, and since Wyamond's brother Murray by then lived in Winnipeg, they were frequently helping and visiting each other.

After the birth of Linda, Wyamond became more and more active in the Saint John Suceavsky parish. He was very respectful of all the clergy that he met, and together with Anna, offered regular hospitality to them in their small home on Arlington Street. They both enjoyed the activities of the parish social club, and they later volunteered to help in the making of perogies for sale. As Linda grew up, the family's characteristic hospitality was extended with her mother's involvement and support to her friends, and to the members of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship at the university.

During the 1970s, Anna loved entertaining the pan-Orthodox youth, especially Ken Roach (an energetic missionary-minded youth, originally from Nova Scotia). When there were feast-day services at Holy Trinity Cathedral at 643, Manitoba Avenue, in Winnipeg, she would walk over the Arlington Street Bridge from her home in the West End to the church. She would typically carry a pot of borshch, to share with the parishioners after the services.

Metropolitan Vladimir (Nagosky) arrived in Winnipeg in 1975 (in retirement as a bishop) to serve Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cathedral at Manitoba Avenue and McKenzie Street. Their meeting was to some extent enabled by their daughter Linda's activities. Metropolitan Vladimir, Ann and Wyamond became good friends, and they frequently visited. On occasion, Metropolitan Vladimir would drive them to various places in Manitoba, and also to visit Wyamond's brother Morris and his family at Melfort, Saskatchewan.

At a Winnipeg social : 2 unidentified standing ; seated Anne McIntyre, Metropolitan Vladimir, Martha MacLellan ; standing behind Vladyka, Father Joseph MacLellan

Anna would recall fondly her friendship with Father John Harvey and his wife Debbie at Saint Ivan’s, and with Metropolitan Vladimir (Nagosky). She considered Vladyka Vladimir to be truly her brother in Christ. She was very happy when English began being used in the church, since she knew that it was very important for the youth, and to non-Slavic people, in order to understand the services of the Orthodox Church. It was a great joy for her to sing at weddings with the Pan-Orthodox Choir of that time. Many OCA ("The Orthodox Church in America") priests were welcomed as guests in her home, as well as in her daughter’s home.

Some of Anna’s most memorable and peaceful moments were when she spent time at her ancestral homestead, and then later, at her cottage in Sandy Lake. Anna was a very special care-giver, mentor and grandmother to Marianne, her only grandchild. She was the perfect story-teller when Marianne was young, and she told her very many stories about her life and about the family in Sandy Lake. Summer times at the cottage put a sharp focus on the places and persons in these stories.

After his long-time exposure to the Orthodox Christian Faith and his participation in the life of the Saint John Suceavsky parish, Wyamond decided that it was time that he enter the Orthodox Church formally. When Wyamond was received into the Orthodox Christian Church by the Priest Cornel Zubritsky, he was given the Church name Vladimir.

In 1981, their only grandchild, Marianne, was born. They both developed a nurturing and loving relationship with their grand-daughter.

Wyamond and young Marianne

Discovering family history, 1990s

In the 1990s, Anna went with Wyamond, Linda and her grand-daughter Marianne to Germany. She had gone there in order to visit extended family after discovering their Rystephanuk cousins in Karlsruhe and in Essenbach. Later, Anna and Linda visited the villages of Panivtsi and Kudrynce in Ukraine, the ancestral villages of the Derhak and Rystephanuk families. It was an extraordinary trip, to have the opportunity to get to know cousins whom she never before knew existed. This was the first time since 1900 that family from Canada went to visit their family in Ukraine. What an emotional meeting that was ! The family in Ukraine were impressed that Anna still spoke Ukrainian in the same way that they had learned.

Anna was fascinated by seeing the results of her genealogical ancestry, when she found out details of her DNA profile earlier in 2015 (East European, East European Jewish, Greek). Linda always wanted to know whether there was a Greek ancestry, after having the family name Reshtefanuk or Rystephanuk analysed by Prof. John-Paul Himka's associate, Wolf Moskovich, a professional linguist from Jerusalem. From that, it appeared that the unique surname appeared to be a derivative of the Greek name "Aristophanes". This result is not surprising, considering the history of western Ukraine. It also supports the family tradition that there is only one Rystephanuk family anywhere. Western Ukraine was on some trade routes to and from all directions. This was particularly the case for east-west trade, but it was also convenient for north-south trade. There was long a Greek presence in Western Ukraine, and particularly in the City of Lviv (Lvov, Lwów, Lemberg, Leopoldstadt, Leopolis).

In 2012 and 2014, their 3 great-grandchildren were born : Madeline, and then Nicholas, and Nathan. They loved to sit on and with their great-grandparents, who loved them and hugged them and cared for them. Despite his greatly diminished hearing, Wyamond could always hear when one of them would cry, and he would be quick to attend to them.

Ann, and great-granddaughter Madeline, 2012

Last struggles for Wyamond and Anna, 2014-2017

As Anna's health began to deteriorate, they sold their home and they moved to live with their daughter Linda. There, they managed for a time. However, Wyamond soon began to exhibit signs of dementia. He became more withdrawn and also confused, and then somewhat agitated. When home-care helpers began to appear, he appreciated them, although he was not always certain who they were. Nevertheless, the time came when he had to go to a place that gave constant care to him, since his needs had noticeably increased.

When Anna was diagnosed with a cancerous eye tumour in the early 2000s, her reaction was, “God put it there, I will deal with it with prayer”. She did just that. She declined in health in the spring, and she came to understand that her end on this earth was near. This decline in her health was related to the departure of her beloved husband to a long-term care facility. Before long, Anna became unable to attend the Sunday Divine Liturgies weekly, which she had done all her life. Instead, she would sing hymns daily to her loyal canine companion Sandy, to Sparkey the cat, and to the cage-birds in the house.

Anna continued to be a loving great-grandmother to Madeline, Nathan and Nicholas right until the end. The special bond they all had with her will never be forgotten. Although she could not read any more, the 3 great-grandchildren would hug her legs, and climb onto her, so as to hear the stories that she would make up when they brought her books to read to them. She also loved to sing to them.

Repose of Anna, 2015

When Anna was hospitalised with pneumonia in October, 2015, she understood that she would not be going home. She fell asleep in the Lord on 24 October, 2015 in Winnipeg.

The Funeral Services for the Burial of a Lay-person were offered on Saturday, 31 October, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. in Saint George’s Orthodox Church, at 121, Harvard Avenue East, in Transcona, Winnipeg.

Afterwards, her body was taken to Saint Nicholas’ Orthodox Church just north of Sandy Lake, Manitoba. After a panikhida (Memorial Service) served by the Priest Gregory Scratch and the Archpriest Mirone Klysh, her body was interred in the Saint Nicholas Cemetery, amongst the rest of her family.

Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cemetery, Sandy Lake

After this, Wyamond continued steadily to become more affected by dementia, and to have an increasingly difficult time knowing who is who. His hearing difficulties did not make it easier. Nevertheless, he was always grateful for the care and attention that was given to him in the long-term care facility where he now lived. One in particular of the care-givers was able to elicit his memories about his past years, and especially about his life on the farm. She also managed to bring out a laugh from him. His lifelong affability and care for others did not disappear as had his ability to remember.

Repose of Wyamond, 2017

On 31 May, 2017, Wyamond had been particularly talkative, and at one stage, he said to his care-giver : "I'm going home tomorrow".

On 1 June, 2017, Wyamond McIntyre fell asleep in the Lord. He had suffered from an unexpected fall, and this precipitated his sudden decline. The doctors helped him to remain in life until his grand-daughter Marianne could arrive. Then, after he had embraced and supported her ever since her birth, so now she embraced and supported him as he came to his last breath.

The Funeral Services for the Burial of a Lay-person were offered on 13 June, 2017, at 9:30 a.m. in Saint George's Orthodox Church, at 121, Harvard Avenue East, Transcona, Winnipeg.

The services were followed by a luncheon reception, and his body was later that day interred beside his wife at Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cemetery in Sandy Lake, Manitoba.

On the 40th Day following Wyamond's repose, a Panikhida was served, as is customary, after the Divine Liturgy at Saint George's Orthodox Church. This was also the day of the anniversary of his marriage to Anna in 1949.

Grave marker, 2019

Saint Nicholas Cemetery, Sandy Lake

Reflections

Linda and Marianne expressed their gratitude to all who called, visited and prayed, and sang for Anna.

 'She was very aware of you all, and was very grateful, especially to Father Mirone and Father Gregory, who attended 
 to her spiritual needs'.

Following is a dialogue between her daughter and her grand-daughter :

 Madeline asked, 'Mommy, Great Grandma is flying with the angels, right ?' 
 Marianne said, 'Yes, and she is very happy'.
 Madeline then asked, 'Mommy, why didn’t she say good-bye to me then ?'
 Marianne replied that Jesus had called her, so she had to go quickly, but she still loves us all.

Wyamond's nephew Wayne McIntyre (who provided some details of his life) wrote that Wyamond had taught his horse "King" to kneel so that he could slide onto his back.

 He would often go to Armley to visit his sister Marguerite and her husband Will Breadner, where he would help with 
 work on the farm.  One day, he was allowed to 'drive' a self-propelled combine harvester, and he did so with no resulting troubles.  
 The McIntyre family was always full of laughter, and I was always happy to visit him every time I came to Winnipeg.
 He was a very special uncle to me.

One of his care-givers, Dia, was able to develop a warm relationship with Wyamond during his time before and during long-term care, and she had the gift to elicit from him many stories, and also laughter. She wrote that during her 4 years of caring for him, she had heard very many stories about his days as a child and youth at Ridgedale. He had explained to her that in his family, music was the equivalent of television in more recent times for entertainment. She reported that when Wyamond went to school, he would volunteer to start the fire in the wood-heater in the morning. He very much loved and respected his mother. He said that she would go to town in order to trade farm produce for flour, sugar and other staples. She also was a fine seamstress, and she made the clothes her children wore. Wyamond was convinced that her ability was sufficient that she could have made good money selling her work to "Eatons". Dia reiterated the fact that Wyamond was an affable and social person, and that he also held clear and strong opinions. She further drew attention to the fact that despite the development of dementia, he never lost his polite, gentlemanly and tidy ways.

The Hieromonk Daniel (Baeyens) of Montréal, who had twice formerly served at Holy Trinity Sobor in Winnipeg, commented : "Ann was a wonderful person, so kind and joyful. May the Lord remember her in His Kingdom ! Memory eternal ! 'Vitchnaya pamiat' !"

Linda asked that the brief words of Father Gregory Scratch at the time of the interment be included, as follows :

It is fitting that at this little Temple, on this hill, in this little community, our dear Anna is put to rest
with her parents, fore-fathers and fore-mothers, childhood friends and family, and that her life comes full
circle ; for it is here, in this church and site, that Anna began her relationship with Christ. As a little
girl attending the services, and hearing about the Gospel, and the feasts and saints of the Church by her
grandfather Dmytro Derhak, that Anna came to know our loving and benevolent God, who did not cease to do all
things until He had raised us up, from a fallen and broken world.

It was here that her faith was formed and cultivated by her family and those amazing pioneers who built not
only this church (twice!) but also built churches and communities across this province and country.

This is not a faith of make-believe fairies and rainbows somewhere out there, but rather the Faith in the true
and real God who loved Anna, by name, and became Man, 'taking the form of a servant' in order to save her.
This Faith is that Christ had truly broken death’s back, by assuming it, and filling it with His boundless
love, mercy, and peace : Faith that, through the waters of baptism, she became a partaker of His death, so
that she might become a partaker of His victory. It started here, and ends here, only to begin again in the
Age to come.

And now she will lie here, with those who taught her, loved her and showed her who Christ is, waiting with all
creation for that last and saving day when she will rise, soul and body, with all of us, to the Judgement of
the loving and merciful God.

We now carry on the same task that she carried on from her father and mother, from Dmytro, and those around
her. We proclaim the Gospel, the Good news of Christ’s victory over death, and His saving joy shared with all
of us. And regardless of where we might start or end up, may we, by faith, have the same relationship
throughout all our life with Jesus Christ.

May her memory be eternal !

Aurora Borealis over Saint Nicholas Temple and Cemetery, Sandy Lake