t is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of Elias “Allan” Yaremchuk in the St. Josephs Hospital on Friday, May 22, 2015.
Elias was born on November 1st, 1925, in the village Krasnosiltsi in the Zbarazh region of Ternopil, Ukraine, the son of Petro and Anna Yaremchuk (born Zbarazh region, Ukraine). He was in the Halychyna Division from March 9, 1943, of the Ukrainian army.
After the capitulation of Germany, he spent time in an Italian POW camp where he ran the coop store and was a photographer. He was transferred to another camp in Manchester, England where he stayed up to 1948. In 1951, he came to Canada and settled in Fort William, now Thunder Bay, Ontario, where he became actively involved in the community life.
He first helped organize the Ukrainian Division of the Ukrainian National Army, Thunder Bay Chapter and chaired the first meeting. Elias opened Centennial Shoes in 1965 in Centennial Square and grew the business to 3 locations in Thunder Bay.
In 1984 he opened Market Fair, the first deep discount store in the city, and was assisted by his daughter Patricia Yaremchuk until they sold it in 1989. He became a member of the Prosvita Society and sang in the choir. He was elected President of the Prosvita Society and held the position for 9 years.
He was an active member of St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian church and also sang in the choir that his late wife, Irene Yaremchuk, directed for 35 years. He was the church’s President for 12 years. In 1989, Elias was one of the founders of the Thunder Bay chapter of the Children of Chornobyl organization and helped run it for 11 years. To date, they have helped 5 hospitals in Ukraine by sending them greatly needed medical goods and have raised over $715,000 in financial support. Elias was an ardent supporter of independence in Ukraine and provided financial and political support for the establishment of the Ukrainian Embassy in Ottawa, and was a founder of the independence support organization “Ryh” in Thunder Bay. Elias maintained strong ties with his native Ukraine, providing annual student scholarships, funding for the local museum of history, business training, and much more, for which received honorary citizenship of the town of Zbarazh Ukraine to acknowledge his contributions.
Elias will be lovingly remembered by his wife Yaroslava whom he shared 7 years of marriage, her two daughters (Oksana and Lilia) and grandchildren; son, George, granddaughters Teagan and Danya, daughter, Patricia (Graham Perry); nieces and nephews in Canada and relatives in Ukraine. Alan was predeceased by his first wife Irene Yaremchuk, (nee Pacholkiw), parents Petro and Anna Yaremchuk, five brothers and sisters in Ukraine, and father- and mother-in-law in Thunder Bay.
Funeral services for Elias will be held on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 when family and friends will gather for Liturgy in St. Volodymyr's Ukrainian Orthodox Church at 11:00 am celebrated by Very Rev. Jaroslaw Buciora.
Interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery. Visitation will take place on Monday, May 25, between 6:00 and 8:00 pm at the Blake Funeral Chapel and Panachyda will be offered at 7:00 pm. Flowers are gratefully declined.
If friends desire, memorials to the Children of Chornobyl Canadian Fund, Heart and Stroke Foundation, St Joseph’s Hospital, or the charity of choice would be appreciated. The family would like to greatly thank the doctors, nurses and staff of the CCAC and St Joseph’s Hospital for their outstanding care and understanding in our difficult time.
Elias Yaremchuk will be remembered in the Blake Funeral Chapel Memorial Grove. Annual dedication service Sunday, June 12, 2016.
