HALITSKY- Rt. Rev. Fr. Eugene
It is with great sadness that we share the news of Right Reverend Father Eugene Halitsky’s passing on July 29, 2023, at the age of 82 after a long struggle with Pulmonary Fibrosis. He was a devoted husband to Anna (nee Szabat) for 53 years and a loving father to Mehron (Casey), Natalka (Jason), Roman (Sabrina), and Oksana (Alan). His grandchildren Benjamin, Timothy, Eliana, Henry, Esme, Jacob, and the late Isaac will miss him dearly. Born on January 9, 1941 in Irati, Brazil to Tomaz and Estefania who have both passed away, he was one of twelve siblings and is predeceased by Melecio (Amelia) and Demetrio (Elvira). He is survived by his brothers and sisters in Brazil and Toronto whom he kept in touch with through phone calls, Facebook, and all available technology; Josafat (Maria), Sister Helena, Nestor (Irena), Paulo (Maria), Doroteia (late Sylvester), Safrona (Izidor), Nadia (Tadeu), Bernadete (Louis), and Efrem (late Rita). Many nieces and nephews also survive him who held him in high regard. After finishing elementary school at just 12 years old, Eugene joined the Basilian Minor Seminary of St. Joseph in Prudentopolis, Brazil before moving on to Major Seminary in Curitiba. From 1964-1968 he attended the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome where he earned a Bachelor of Theology degree. During this period while visiting Bradford, England, he met his future wife Anna for the first time at the Ukrainian Catholic Church. Sponsored by Monsignor B. Filevich from St. Josaphat’s Cathedral in Toronto, he emigrated to Canada in October of 1969. For three years he worked at Dempster’s Bread while taking evening English classes at college and sang with the St. Josaphat’s Cathedral Choir. On July 11th, 1970 at St. Josaphat’s Cathedral in Toronto, Eugene married Anna. In February of 1973 he was ordained as Sub Deacon followed by Deacon at his parish of St. Demetrius in Toronto. Under Bishop Isidore Borecky’s guidance he traveled to Rome where he was ordained by his Beatitude Josyf Cardinal Slipyj on August 26th, 1973. In September 1973 he became pastor of Holy Cross Church in Thunder Bay where his first two children Mehron and Natalka were born during his time there. In 1978 he moved to Christ the King Ukrainian Catholic Church in London Ontario where his son Roman came into their lives. By 1980 Father Eugene had taken on the role of Pastor at Saints Vladimir and Olga Ukrainian Catholic Church in Windsor Ontario where they welcomed their daughter Oksana soon after.
He also served communities including Amherstburg, Leamington Chatham as well as St. Michael’s Slovak Greek-Catholic Church located in Windsor. When not serving at church Father Eugene could be found preparing thoughtful homilies that inspired others during weddings funerals or Sunday masses often sharing a humorous story or joke which made him laugh too while reading it aloud himself! He understood that people were what truly mattered within any church community visiting sick or homebound parishioners whenever possible whether they were home or hospitalized which brought him joy throughout his vocation; once retired gardening became an enjoyable pastime along with cooking watching soccer golf tennis hockey! Family held immense importance for him especially relishing weekends full dinners spent surrounded by loved ones including adored grandchildren! Fr. Eugene will lie-in-state Wednesday August second twenty twenty-three at Sts. Vladimir & Olga Ukrainian Catholic Church(601 Lake Trail Dr. Windsor ON) visitation hours starting from one pm until four pm then five pm till Panakhyda(Prayers) happening seven pm. Funeral Liturgy services set for Thursday August third twenty twenty-three beginning eleven am. Interment follows afterward via Windsor Memorial Gardens. In lieu flowers donations may go towards Canada-Ukraine Foundation or Saints Vladimir & Olga Building Fund alongside Transition To Betterness(T2B) appreciated greatly online condolences cherished memories can be shared via family site www. windsorchapel. com
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It is with great sadness that we share the news of Right Reverend Father Eugene Halitsky’s passing on July 29, 2023, at the age of 82 after a long struggle with Pulmonary Fibrosis. He was a devoted husband to Anna (nee Szabat) for 53 years and a loving father to Mehron (Casey), Natalka (Jason), Roman (Sabrina), and Oksana (Alan). His grandchildren Benjamin, Timothy, Eliana, Henry, Esme, Jacob, and the late Isaac will miss him dearly. Born on January 9, 1941 in Irati, Brazil to Tomaz and Estefania who have both passed away, he was one of twelve siblings and is predeceased by Melecio (Amelia) and Demetrio (Elvira). He is survived by his brothers and sisters in Brazil and Toronto whom he kept in touch with through phone calls, Facebook, and all available technology; Josafat (Maria), Sister Helena, Nestor (Irena), Paulo (Maria), Doroteia (late Sylvester), Safrona (Izidor), Nadia (Tadeu), Bernadete (Louis), and Efrem (late Rita). Many nieces and nephews also survive him who held him in high regard. After finishing elementary school at just 12 years old, Eugene joined the Basilian Minor Seminary of St. Joseph in Prudentopolis, Brazil before moving on to Major Seminary in Curitiba. From 1964-1968 he attended the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome where he earned a Bachelor of Theology degree. During this period while visiting Bradford, England, he met his future wife Anna for the first time at the Ukrainian Catholic Church. Sponsored by Monsignor B. Filevich from St. Josaphat’s Cathedral in Toronto, he emigrated to Canada in October of 1969. For three years he worked at Dempster’s Bread while taking evening English classes at college and sang with the St. Josaphat’s Cathedral Choir. On July 11th, 1970 at St. Josaphat’s Cathedral in Toronto, Eugene married Anna. In February of 1973 he was ordained as Sub Deacon followed by Deacon at his parish of St. Demetrius in Toronto. Under Bishop Isidore Borecky’s guidance he traveled to Rome where he was ordained by his Beatitude Josyf Cardinal Slipyj on August 26th, 1973. In September 1973 he became pastor of Holy Cross Church in Thunder Bay where his first two children Mehron and Natalka were born during his time there. In 1978 he moved to Christ the King Ukrainian Catholic Church in London Ontario where his son Roman came into their lives. By 1980 Father Eugene had taken on the role of Pastor at Saints Vladimir and Olga Ukrainian Catholic Church in Windsor Ontario where they welcomed their daughter Oksana soon after.
He also served communities including Amherstburg, Leamington Chatham as well as St. Michael’s Slovak Greek-Catholic Church located in Windsor. When not serving at church Father Eugene could be found preparing thoughtful homilies that inspired others during weddings funerals or Sunday masses often sharing a humorous story or joke which made him laugh too while reading it aloud himself! He understood that people were what truly mattered within any church community visiting sick or homebound parishioners whenever possible whether they were home or hospitalized which brought him joy throughout his vocation; once retired gardening became an enjoyable pastime along with cooking watching soccer golf tennis hockey! Family held immense importance for him especially relishing weekends full dinners spent surrounded by loved ones including adored grandchildren! Fr. Eugene will lie-in-state Wednesday August second twenty twenty-three at Sts. Vladimir & Olga Ukrainian Catholic Church(601 Lake Trail Dr. Windsor ON) visitation hours starting from one pm until four pm then five pm till Panakhyda(Prayers) happening seven pm. Funeral Liturgy services set for Thursday August third twenty twenty-three beginning eleven am. Interment follows afterward via Windsor Memorial Gardens. In lieu flowers donations may go towards Canada-Ukraine Foundation or Saints Vladimir & Olga Building Fund alongside Transition To Betterness(T2B) appreciated greatly online condolences cherished memories can be shared via family site www. windsorchapel. com
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