Reader William and Doris Piasta

Reader William (Vasyl) Piasta (1919-2005)

and

Doris (born Nykorchuk) Piasta (1922-2024)

William may be spelt Vasily, Wasyl, Bill.

Early life of William (Vasyl) Stephan Piasta

William (Vasyl) Stephan Piasta was born on 14 January, 1918, in Yamnytsya (at that time in Galicia (Halychina), but after the end of 1918, in the Second Polish Republic, Stanisławów Voivodeship), in what is now Tysmenyts'kyi County, Ivano-Frankivsk Province, Western Ukraine. He was born to Stephan and Paraska (born) Bibyk) Piasta.

William had an elder brother Andrew, a younger sister Anna, and a younger brother Antony.

They were raised as Orthodox Christians in a region where the majority of people were Ukrainian Catholic Christians.

They also received the usual primary and secondary education which was available there.

Time of troubles

The years following the birth of William and his siblings were filled with political disturbance, war, and deprivation.

The Russian Empire had collapsed in 1917, and the subsequent conflicts developed into the Ukrainian War of Independence. The, Ukrainian forces fought alongside, or against, the Red, White, Black, and Green armies. The Poles, Hungarians (in Transcarpathia), and Germans intervened at various times. There followed more than one attempt to create a Ukrainian People's Republic (UNR) (under Mykhailo Hrushevsky), but the environment was extremely unstable politically and militarily. There was a coup d'état led by Pavlo Skoropadsky, which was followed by the Ukrainian State (a German protectorate), and the attempt to restore the UNR under the Directorate of Ukraine, the West Ukrainian People's Republic, the Hutsul Republic, and the Second Polish Republic, and then, finally, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (Soviet Ukraine). Involved in all this during these years, the Russian Civil War (1917-1923) was included in this very difficult period. Society was, in general, in an upheaval.

The 1930s were very difficult, and the 1940s were more difficult.

In the 1930s, came a general famine (“holodomor”) which particularly affected the peoples in Ukraine, during which millions died. One of the main causes was the forced collectivisation of farms, and the persecution of farmers. It was also a decade of deep persecution of the Orthodox Christian Faith (and all faiths) in the Soviet Union, and it included the “Great Purge” of 1937-1938. Then, there arrived World War II, the Nazi-German invasion, and terrible fighting throughout Ukraine. Many Ukrainians were sent away to Germany to forced-labour camps.

Towards the end of the war, as the German armies retreated, and many more Ukrainians went with them in order to avoid the negative consequences of the arrival of the Soviet-Communist armies.

Emigration

The Piasta family were amongst those who were taken westward to Western Europe, to the Displaced Persons Camps, and eventually to Canada, and first to Toronto, Ontario. Afterwards, they moved to a farm near Ituna, Saskatchewan.

William met his future wife while he was in Toronto, at Saint Vladimir’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church, where she also attended.

Saint Volodymyr Cathedral Toronto

Early life of Doris “Daisy” Nykorchuk

Doris Piasta, affectionately known as "Daisy" in her youth, was born on September 17, 1921, to Peter (1888-1946) and Irene Nykorchuk (1888-1963) in Rossburn, Manitoba. She was the middle child of seven children. Her siblings were Alexander, Andrew, Paul, William, Anne, and Stella. Her parents Peter (from Halych, in Prikarpattia (now Ivano-Frankivsk), and Irene (from the Halychina region), had emigrated from their homeland around the time of World War I.

At first, they had lived in Rossburn, Manitoba, Canada.

Saint Elias Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Rossburn

Then, after a few years, they moved to Transcona in Winnipeg, Manitoba, when Doris was 3 years old.

Then, when Doris was 6, they moved to Toronto, Ontario. There, Doris attended the school across the street from their home. They began to attend Saint Volodymyr’s Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Cathedral in that city.

As a young girl, church was central to her life. With her family, Doris attended services every Sunday, and feast day. As she grew older, she joined the parish choir, and she sang with them until her marriage. She also participated in the Ukrainian Cultural Choir affiliated with the parish, and she became a proficient dancer in the Ukrainian Dance Group.

Bereavement

In 1942, Doris’s father, Peter, reposed in Christ. Doris continued to live with her mother and 2 younger siblings, and she contributed the majority of her pay-cheque to support the family (a testament to her selflessness and dedication).

In 1945, she met her future husband, William, whom she described as “the love of my life”, who also was now attending Saint Vladimir’s.

Marriage

On 11 May, 1946, at Saint Volodymyr’s Cathedral, William Stephan Piasta and Doris Nykorchuk were crowned in marriage (a marriage which would last almost 60 years).

Family life

In 1947, William and Doris, received their first child, Irene. Sadly, 18 months later, they would lose her to meningitis.

In 1949, their first son, Russel, was born. In 1951, their second son, Robert, was born. However, Robert began to suffer from complications with asthma.

Consequently, William and Doris decided to move to a drier climate. Thus, they arrived in Saskatchewan in 1953. They settled in the region near Ituna.

They participated in the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit) Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Ituna.

Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit) Church

Farm life in Saskatchewan

The decision to move to Saskatchewan was a significant turning point in Doris's life. It was a move that tested her resilience and adaptability, as she had to bid farewell to her beloved family and adjust to a life vastly different from her city upbringing.

The farm and modest homestead to which they relocated lacked basic amenities, and Doris had to take on the role of a subsistence farm housewife. She met this challenge head-on, and she transformed the humble 3-room house into a warm and inviting home. She mastered the art of cooking, and gardening, and she assisted William with the general farm work.

Their third son, Andrew, was born in 1955 ; and 3 years later, in 1958, their last child, Dennis, was born.

William and Doris dedicated themselves to farming until 1980.

Throughout these years, they resided in the Ituna district, where they actively participated in community and church life. Doris's commitment to her family and community was unwavering, as she continued to sing in the choir, and serve as an active member of the parish ladies’ auxiliary. Meanwhile, William had studied to be a church Reader, and he had also learnt how to lead the singing at services, and he became known as a “Dyak”. He continued to serve in this manner everywhere he lived.

Retirement

In 1980, they retired to Yorkton, Saskatchewan, where their devotion to the church remained steadfast. They both served in their usual manner, now in Transfiguration Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Doris continued to contribute to the parish's ladies’ group. In addition, with more leisure time in retirement, she discovered a new passion for cross-stitching. Her creative endeavours were not limited to this, as she lovingly crafted numerous tablecloths, runners, and towels, most of which were given as gifts to family, relatives, and friends, and this brought joy and beauty into their lives.

At the same time, William served in Yorkton parish life, both in singing, and in service projects.

Holy Transfiguration Ukrainian Orthodox Church

After the establishment of Saint Mark’s Orthodox Church in Yorkton in 1987, William and Doris came to be part of the new community. This parish differed from Holy Transfiguration in that this parish operated completely in the English Language. There, they continued to serve the Lord in the Orthodox Church with the same energy and devotion as always in the course of their lives.

Saint Mark the Evangelist Orthodox Church

Candle-making

In the early 1990s, during the pastorate of Archpriest Dennis Pihach, one of the major projects that William undertook together with Nicholas Kozmeniuk was the production of candles not only for parish use, but also for the use of the diocesan bishop.

His friend, Nick, had made a thorough research into the methods of candle-making, and the use of recycled candle-wax. They agreed to work together. 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. This voluntary project undertaken by friends who were both loving servants of Christ proved to be beneficial for the Church, and they were blessed themselves in this labour of love.

Candle-making

This 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.

Indeed, other parish groups learnt how to do something similar.

Repose of William

On 14 July, 2005, William S Piasta fell asleep in the Lord in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, at 86 years of age.

A Panikhida (Memorial Service) was served for the newly-departed servant of God.

The Funeral Service for a Lay-person was served for the newly-departed servant of God, Reader William S Piasta at Saint Mark’s Orthodox Church in Yorkton, Saskatchewan (160 Betts Avenue, Yorkton, Saskatchewan).

A Memorial Divine Liturgy was served for him at Saint Mark’s Orthodox Church in Yorkton. This was followed by a final Memorial Litiya.

Following the funeral obsequies, the body of the Reader William S Piasta was taken for interment to the Yorkton City Cemetery (King Street, Yorkton, Saskatchewan).

Continuing life of Doris

After the repose of her husband, William, in 2006, Doris continued to live in her home, surrounded by memories of their life together, and supported by the presence of her son, Father Andrew.

Doris continued her life of prayer, worship, and service as before. She remained her usual joyful, hospitable, welcoming self, always genuinely caring for others. She was regularly in church, sharing her faith and hope, helping as she could, and giving joy and hope to others.

During these years, she accompanied her son, Priest Andrew Piasta, on his many pastoral travels around southern Saskatchewan and western Manitoba. He served many rural communities, including the Mission of Saint Andrew the First-Called in Canora, Saskatchewan (which he had founded in 2004).

She and her son together also travelled together to visit other family members from time to time, and to participate in some diocesan activities.

In December, 2023, in the context of various illnesses, Doris had to move into a long-term care home. She resided in The Yorkton & District Nursing Home, where she was cared for with love and respect.

Repose of Doris

On Sunday, 28 April, 2024, Doris Piasta (born Nykorchuk) fell asleep in the Lord in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, at 102 years of age.

On Sunday, 5 May, 2024, a Panikhida (Memorial Service) was served for the newly-departed servant of God Doris at Saint Mark the Evangelist Orthodox Church (160 Betts Avenue, Yorkton, Saskatchewan) by Archpriest Andrew Piasta, Archpriest Rodion Luciuk, and Igumen Vladimir (Lysak).

On Monday, 6 May, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., the Memorial Divine Liturgy for the newly-departed servant of God Doris was served at Saint Mark the Evangelist Orthodox Church (160 Betts Avenue, Yorkton, Saskatchewan), by Archpriest Andrew Piasta, Archpriest Rodion Luciuk, and Igumen Vladimir (Lysak). This was followed by a Final Memorial Litiya.

Entrance of the coffin

During the funeral

Doris Piasta

Following the funeral obsequies, a procession was formed, which took the body of Doris Piasta for interment at the Yorkton City Cemetery (King Street, Yorkton, Saskatchewan) beside the body of her husband.

Grave-marker