Helen Anne Sytnyk

Helen Sytnyk (Dziver) was born on February 10, 1966 in the LGD of Park to Albina and Nick Dziver. Mom was the 3rd of 6 siblings and grew up on the family farm near Wisla. She went to school in Elphinstone, MB from K-12 and graduated in 1984.

In the fall of 1983 she met David Sytnyk at a fall dance in Olha, MB. Little did they know they would spend the next 38 years by each other’s sides, married for 34 years. Mom and Dad were married on October 25, 1986 at the Holy Eucharist Church in Oakburn, MB. They lived together at the old yard and began their family soon after. They worked hard every day taking care of the pigs, cattle and grain land on the farm. They had 6 children; Catherine (1987), Michael (1990), Josephine (1992), Samantha (1993), Marianne (1997), Debra (2002). Helen and David worked hand in hand growing the farm and providing a good life for their children. Helen loved caring for the sows and piglets, and she later bought butcher and layer hens, ducks, and milk cows. Mom milked cows and sold cream through her quota to the creamery which she used to help further build her herd of animals. Mom was always busy, you could find her in the pens with the animals, in the garden, making meals, all while raising her growing family.

In 1997, the family moved to the new yard where the family currently resides and continued to raise cattle and grow grain crops. Mom always made everyone on the farm feel welcome. Visitors would usually leave the house full of food and a plate to walk out the door with.

Mom completed her Dietary Aide Certificate and worked in the kitchen of the surrounding area personal care homes. In 2008, Mom completed her Health Care Aide certificate and began working at the Shoal Lake Personal Care Home as a health care aide until the Spring of 2017. Mom enjoyed spending time with the residents and took pride in getting to know and giving the best care to everyone at the care home. She often said the PCH was a vacation and would come home to work even longer hours on the farm. She was not afraid of hard work, and she would never complain about lack of sleep or missing meals for her family’s needs.

Mom was also very involved in the community. Mom was active in all of her children’s activities and was a 4-H leader for many years, involved in church caroling, and helping out at catechism. Helen was a very devoted women of faith and was a parishioner in the Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Church and a Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League Member for over 10 years.

Even after mom was diagnosed with cancer in 2017, mom was always involved in the farm and in every aspect of her children’s lives’. Mom underwent treatments at the Cancer Care Center in Brandon while staying at the Murray House and her family members in Brandon. Mom was very appreciative to have good friends who drove her to appointments whenever she needed.

Mom was a loving wife, mother, baba, sister, aunt, neighbor, and friend. She was always just a phone call away. She always greeted you with her infectious smile and was genuinely interested in anything you had to say. Mom was eager to share stories of her children and grandchildren and any stories from the farm happenings of the day. Mom was always there to lend a hand if you needed it, her generosity was second to none. In her spare time, she enjoyed baking, gardening, being outdoors, visiting with neighbors and friends and spending time with the grandkids. Mom always had the grandkids favorite snacks ready to go and never missed a chance to spoil them. Mom never missed an opportunity to shine some light on someone else’s day and there was no amount of work that could scare Mom away. She was a selfless woman.

Mom was the caretaker of the farm. She always had a meal on the stove, in the fridge, or delivered it to the field for everyone at the farm and she never went to bed before everyone was in from the field. Running for parts or being your personal chauffer was not uncommon for Mom between her chemo appointments. Mom always made time for you, no matter how hectic things were around her. Mom was selfless in all aspects of her life, her hands may have been calloused from hours of farm work, but her heart was full of kindness and was always ready to give.

Mom passed away on April 19, 2021 in her home.

Helen is survived and will be missed by her dear husband David and their children Cathy (Tyler Bryer), Michael, Josie (Neil Dreilich), Sammy, Marianne, Debbie; grandchildren John, Georgia, and Morgan Bryer and Jacob Dreilich; sister Doris (Jim Kodak), brother Peter (Kelly) Dziver, sister Margaret (Wesley) McSymachs, brother John (Sherry) Dziver, and brother Stanley Dziver; nieces and nephews, Sarah and Jesse Dziver, Kaysi and Kody Dziver. Jennifer (Bernie Wolski) along with uncle Bill Swistun. She will be missed greatly by her family and friends who grew so close to her over the years. She was a very hardworking wife, mom and friend and was loved by all who knew her.

A private family service was held at the Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Church Oakburn, MB. Condolences can be expressed at www.raesfs.ca. If you so wish, donations can be made to CancerCare Manitoba or Murray House, Brandon. Rae’s funeral services in care of arrangements.

Thank-you to everyone who visited or called, and a sincere thank-you to the workers at the CancerCare Center and Murray House in Brandon. Special thanks to all the friends who took mom to appointments and the homecare girls.

She will be our guardian angel always watching on us from above and her memory will fill our hearts forever.