Obituary of Iris Osadchuk

The family of Orysia (Iris) Osadchuk are saddened to announce the passing of our Mom, Grandmother, Mother-In-Law, Sister and Aunt. She passed away peacefully in her sleep in Vita, Manitoba, in the early morning hour. 

Born on the family homestead near Caliento, Manitoba, she was the second of five children. Being a little sister to her brother Ben and a big sister to brothers Tony and Leonard and sister Grace, life on the farm was always full of fun and surprises and great times for the family. Picking mushrooms in the bush with their Dad, helping with gardening and chores, riding on the tractor and helping Mom in the summer kitchen were the way of life back in the day. With few luxuries compared to today, the family was a great example of prairie living.

When Mom was a young adult, she moved to Winnipeg and undertook a job as a nanny for a family.  Being the kind and friendly woman that she was, when that family decided to move to Toronto, they asked her to move with them and she did. Iris had already met her one and only love, Bohdan (Bob) Osadchuk. Shortly after that she decided she would become his lifelong partner. She returned home to Manitoba and they married in August 1964. The young family moved to Rainy River, Ontario, in the fall of 1968. They raised two sons, Peter and Nick and keeping her “boys” happy, healthy and fed was her top priority. In addition, it turned out that keeping friends, neighbours and the like fed with her traditional Ukrainian food was something she enjoyed all of her life. We remember her for her many meals, even waking up at all times of the night when she heard someone rummaging in her kitchen looking for the cabbage rolls and perogies!

Iris had a love for cooking and had a career taking care of the patients and staff at the Rainy River Hospital from their kitchen for over 25 years.  She was an avid fundraiser and had a passionate devotion for the community being an outstanding member of The Kinettes and Lions Rotary Clubs for many, many years. If she was approaching you in the street or anywhere in public, she had a ticket to sell, was looking for a donation for a cause or was on her way to volunteer somewhere. She enjoyed travelling extensively with her young family while being our navigator, picnics, visiting with friends and relatives and trips back home to the farm. She always had an interest in family heritage and was engaged in looking for any information she could find about our ancestry. A ten day trip to Ukraine became a reality as it was important for her to experience the “Old Country”.

She moved “back home” to Vita, Manitoba, in 2006 and spent the remaining part of her life there being close to family. Mom was a member of the St. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church and other community organizations and enjoyed many events including... you guessed it, making perogies for sale for charity! 

She is survived by her son Peter, daughter-in-law Donna Osadchuk of Rainy River, Ontario, grandson Aidan Osadchuk of Ottawa, Ontario, son Nicklous, daughter-in-law Alissa Osadchuk of Sarnia, Ontario, brothers Ben Lazaruk, Anton (Tony) and Dianne Lazaruk, Lawrence (Leonard) and Sherry Lazaruk, sister Grace and Greg Crayston, many nieces and nephews and extended Osadchuk family.

She was predeceased by her husband, Bohdan (Bob) Osadchuk, and her parents, John and Mary Lazaruk.

Prayers will be held on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at 7:30 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel in Steinbach, MB.

The funeral service will be held on Thursday, March 23, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB, with Fr. Oris Naherniak and Cantor Martin Chobotar officiating. Interment at the parish cemetery to follow.

Pallbearers for the service will be Mark Lazaruk, Dean Lazaruk, Tim Lazaruk, Kim Lazaruk, Tyler Crayston and Scott Crayston, all nephews of Iris.

The family expresses sincere thanks to relatives and friends and for their kindness and support and gratitude to the caregivers.

Upon the wishes of Iris and her family, donations may be made to Vita & District Health Center, 217 1 Ave. Vita, MB R0A 2K0.

“Vichnaya Pamyat”