Nicholas and Evelyn Kozmeniuk

Nicholas Kozmeniuk (1920-2007)

and

Evelyn Kozmeniuk (born Bondar) (1925-1995)

— edited from an article by Sandi Tokaruk, Church of Saint Mark the Evangelist, Yorkton, Saskatchewan, and an article by the Priest Dennis Pihach.

About Nicholas and Evelyn

Nicholas Kozmeniuk was born on 13 August, 1920, in the district of Glen Elder (near Kamsack), Saskatchewan, Canada, to Michael and Katie Kozmeniuk. They raised their family in the living and practice of the Orthodox Christian Faith.

He was educated until grade 8 at the South Porcupine School, and he received his grade 9 and 10 education through correspondence. At one time, he had contemplated joining the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) ; but when World War II broke out in 1939, he decided to stay home on the farm because its operation was made more difficult and at the same time necessary during the war years.

As a young man, Nick loved to play baseball. He usually played left field, and he was a good home-run-hitter. He was also a self-taught musician, and he played the pump-organ and the banjo. Later, he purchased an accordion for $30, which he played for many years.

He met the love of his life, Evelyn Bondar, at a wedding dance and dinner.

Marriage, 1943

Nicholas Kozmeniuk and Evelyn Bondar were married on 11 November, 1943, in the home of Nick’s parents.

The wedding dance was held at the Glen Elder Hall.

They lived with his parents for 2 years before settling in their first home in the Danbury area, where they farmed.

Nick and Evelyn raised 4 children : Mervin, born in 1947 ; Olivia, in 1949 ; Peter, in 1954 ; and Linda, in 1963.

Besides working to support a family, Nick was also an active member of the community. He served for 17 years as a member of the local school board, and for 14 years as a board member of the local Co-op. In addition, he helped in the building of Saint Volodymyr’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Danbury.

Saint Volodymyr Temple, Danbury, Saskatchewan

Retirement from farming, 1971 ; travel ; missionary work

In 1971, Nick and Evelyn decided to retire from farming, and move to Saskatoon to start a new life. They moved into their new home on 16 September ; and by 20 September, Nick had found employment with Federated Co-operative.

In Saskatoon, they eventually became founding members of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church. It was at this time of their lives that Nick and Evelyn began to travel, and they made 2 trips to Ukraine in order to visit ancestral family sites.

Nick, being Nick, needed to keep busy, and he developed an interest in stained glass. His specialty was making stained glass lampshades. He always said he took up making stained glass to teach himself patience.

Holy Resurrection Orthodox Temple, Saskatoon

Move to Yorkton, 1985

In 1985, Nick retired again, and he and Evelyn moved to Yorkton, in order to be closer to family and friends. Nick still kept very busy with his stained glass during the winter months. At this time, he took up a new hobby : turning wood with a wood lathe.

Once in Yorkton, they continued to be actively involved in their practice of the Orthodox Christian Faith, by becoming founding members of Saint Mark the Evangelist’s Orthodox Church.

1988 Divine Liturgy : Saint Mark's early days in the museum

Nick helping Evelyn prepare coffee at the mission, 1988

Candle-making

As part of Nick’s service to the church, he began to make candles. Part of the impetus for this project was a result of a question asked by the bishop about whether candles for the Dikiri and Trikiri (double and triple candlesticks) could be produced domestically. Although this involved a great deal of work, it generated many stories, and lots of fellowship and laughter. Nevertheless, Nick's using his workshop to begin making candles was a renewal of an old custom in which parishioners would make their own candles locally in order to make them available to parishioners for offering them in worship services and at home.

Nicholas Kozmeniuk and William Piasta (+2005) (the highly-experienced reader and cantor) were the main workers, although others helped as well. Nick made a thorough research into the methods of candle-making, and the use of recycled candle-wax. They learned how to do this with beeswax as well as with paraffin. The first products were votive-lights, which soon became regularly used in services. It was not long before it was possible for the Temple of Saint Mark to have all the altar and votive candles made from a combination of fresh wax and from wax retrieved from the stubs remaining after services.

It proved to be a good cost-saving measure for the parish. The Dikiri and Trikiri candles needed for the bishop's services were also being provided in quantity. Bishop Seraphim (Storheim) found these candles to be of the right length, and to burn reliably. Soon, other parishes in the area began forwarding their stubs for recycling, and they received hand-dipped candles in return. The joy with which both Nick and Bill produced these candles demonstrated to all the fruit of making such willing love-offerings to our Saviour.

Saint Mark the Evangelist Orthodox Temple, Yorkton

After retirement, Nick and Evelyn continued to travel, but now as delegates to Archdiocese of Canada Diocesan Assemblies, and to All-American Councils. In 1993, they received a citation ("gramota", certificate) from the bishop for their service to the Orthodox Church. This was presented to them on their 50th wedding anniversary.

During all these years, their open-hearted hospitality was offered to very many visitors from very many different places. They kept a special room in their home, which was nick-named the "Prophet's Chamber", which warmly and peacefully received the guests.

Bereavement, 1995

On 11 June, 1995, on the day of the Feast of Pentecost, life for Nick changed dramatically with the falling asleep in the Lord of his wife Evelyn. They had been married for 52 years.

On 13 June, 1995, a Panikhida (Memorial Service) was served in the evening by Priest Dennis Pihach at Saint Mark's Orthodox Church in Yorkton.

On 14 June, 1995, the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Lay-person was served by the Priest Dennis Pihach at Saint Mark's Orthodox Church in Yorkton.

After the funeral was completed, Evelyn's body was interred at the Yorkton Memorial Gardens cemetery, on the east side of Yorkton.

Besides her husband Nick, Evelyn was survived by her children : Mervin (Joyce) Kozmeniuk ; Olivia (Terry) Fagrie ; Peter Kozmeniuk ; Linda (John) Fuh ; her mother, Eugenia Bondar ; her sisters Mary (Mike) Yarycky ; Helen (Tony) Proskie ; Linda (Waler) Davidiuk ; her brother Mike (Genevieve) Bondar ; her grandchildren Julie and Amy Kozmeniuk, Judd and Jessica Fagrie and Simon Fuh.

Nick continued on his own

Nick now had to begin to walk his path without his partner in life at his side. He accepted this, and he knew that he had to adjust.

He moved to an apartment, decided to stop doing wood-turning, and he reduced the amount of his candle-making production. He continued with his stained glass work, however, and he loved to show his handiwork, and to tell anyone who would listen how he made what he did.

Nick also adapted to living on his own through devoting a great quantity of his energy to his children and grandchildren. He was genuinely interested in their lives, and he wanted to be part of every aspect of their lives, sometimes whether they wanted it or not !

Repose, 2007

On 1 March, 2007, Nicholas Kozmeniuk fell asleep in the Lord in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.

Soon after his repose, a Panikhida (Memorial Service) was offered in the evening by Archpriest Rodion Luciuk in Saint Mark the Evangelist's Temple in Yorkton.

The next day, in the morning, at Saint Mark the Evangelist's Temple, the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Lay-person was served by Archpriest Dennis Pihach (Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Canada), Archpriest Rodion Luciuk, rector of the parish, and other clergy.

After the completion of the services, the body of Nicholas Kozmeniuk was interred next to that of his wife at the Yorkton Memorial Gardens cemetery.

Memory Eternal !

Grave-marker at Yorkton Memorial Gardens, Saskatchewan (124A, Lot 33)

Reflections

Nicholas Kozmeniuk was a recipient (2003) of the Archdiocese of Canada’s Award of the Saint Tikhon Medal (in honour of Saint Tikhon (Belavin)) for his lifelong service to the Church.

How do you begin to sum up the life of someone like Nicholas Kozmeniuk in a few words ? When you think about it, it is really quite simple to sum up Nick’s life in just one word : “LOVE”. Nick loved God and His Church ; he loved his beautiful wife Evelyn ; he loved his children and grandchildren ; he loved his friends. Nick loved life and all that it entailed. Nick was the ultimate connector. That seemed to be his role. He always knew someone who knew someone ; and he knew just the right people to call if there was a problem. Nick had the gift to engage people fully. He was interested in people not in a superficial way, but in a deeper, intense way. This ability to connect is very evident when you examine Nick’s collection of friends ; they come in all ages, and from all backgrounds. Nick was a very special part of the lives of the many who knew him ; but what made Nick so amazing is that he was that special to many who knew him.

Over the years, Nick (often along with Evelyn) attended many Archdiocesan Assemblies of the Archdiocese of Canada, as well as several All-American Councils, and they were known by a goodly number of the Faithful across Canada. The following is part of a tribute paid to Nick by Sandi Tokaruk, a past president of the Sisterhood of Saint Mark’s Church in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, the parish of which Nick was a member :

Nick’s faith-resumé is very inspiring. How many people can say they built a church and were a founding member
of two others ? But it is more than tasks and duties that make Nick’s faith inspiring. It was his faithful
attendance at church, his prayer life and his thoughtful contemplation of God and life that stood out the
most. In 2003, Bishop Seraphim presented Nick with the Award of Saint Tikhon, the highest award of the
Archdiocese of Canada. Nick was a huge presence at St Mark’s. He was like a grandfather to our youth ; many
times, he fittingly played the role of Saint Nicolas. He loved them all, and he took a great interest in all
their activities. Even after others left Saint Mark’s to start new lives, he never failed to ask about them.
For his church family, Nick served as a guardian, a mentor, and a dear, dear friend. The many gifts that he
bestowed on his church were always accompanied with great humility.

What wonderful stories we have shared with Nick and about Nick. He left us with wonderful memories, such as
getting into a car and always, without fail, saying : ‘Okay, kick ’er loose’ ; or, when we encouraged him –
okay maybe even nagged him – to eat lunch after church, he would always say : ‘I’m a fussy guy ; my wife
Evelyn spoiled me’. And no-one will ever forget going out for coffee with Nick. Nick seemed to know everyone ;
and every person he saw or bumped into would generate a host of new stories and adventures. Nick’s attitude
was always this : Be thankful for all the good things and events that happen in your life, and even some of
the unpleasant things, as they all make you a stronger person.

Nick had a good life ; he had a long life ; and he was grateful for all things that life had given him. His
favourite words were, ‘I have been blessed ; I have had a good life’. We are very grateful that Nick had a
long and full life. We are grateful that he has now entered the Church Triumphant and has been reunited with
Evelyn. No matter if we call this wonderful man Dad, Grandpa, Nick, Mr. Kozmeniuk, Pappa Nick, or Nicolas the
Saintly, we are so very grateful that we were a part of his life, and that he was a part of ours. We’ll miss
you, Nick.

References

‘Around the Archdiocese’ in “Canadian Orthodox Messenger” (Winter, 1994/1995), p. 6

‘Our elders in the faith’ in “Canadian Orthodox Messenger” (Summer, 2007), pp. 14-16

Additional information :

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., “Orthodox America 1794-1976 : Development of The Orthodox Church in America” (Syosset, NY : The Orthodox Church in America Department of History and Archives, 1975). ASIN : B000ZLZAUE.

Saint Volodymyr's Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Danbury, Saskatchewan

Holy Resurrection Sobor, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Archdiocesan listing for Holy Resurrection Orthodox Sobor, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Archdiocese of Canada Assembly in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, 1990

Archdiocese of Canada Assembly in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, 2004

Saint Mark the Evangelist Orthodox Church in Yorkton, Saskatchewan

Archdiocese of Canada listing for Saint Mark the Evangelist Church

Archdiocese of Canada web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about the Archdiocese of Canada

Orthodox Church in America (OCA) listing for Saint Mark the Evangelist Church, Yorkton, Saskatchewan (with some background history)

Orthodox Church in America web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church in America