Helen Malinsky
August 1, 1930 – November 30, 2018
After a short, but courageous battle with cancer, Helen Malinsky, beloved wife of Sozon Malinsky of Kamsack and formerly of Canora, SK, passed away at the Kamsack and District Nursing Home on November 30, 2018, at the age of 88 years.
Helen was born August 1, 1930 to John and Estania (Lacusta) Smandych. She grew up with her five brothers and four sisters on a farm near Calder, SK. When Helen was only seven years old, her mother died suddenly. Thus, out of necessity, Helen matured early becoming a creative cook at a young age. She married at age sixteen and had one child, Gladys, who passed away at age twelve. When her husband, Matt Elenchuck, also passed in 1966, Helen moved to Yorkton, SK, where she worked various jobs as a waitress. She met and married Sozon Malinsky in 1970.
Helen and Sozon relocated from Yorkton to the Laketown Hotel in Saltcoats, where they co-managed the hotel business. In 1974, they sold the hotel and moved to a home in the country near Donwell, returning to the love of farming, something they’d each had past experience with. They easily and happily made friends with their farming neighbors. While on the farm, they realized a freedom to spend their winters in Texas. Retirement in 1992 interrupted their country lifestyle when they sold the farm and moved to Canora. While living in their Canora home, they continued spending their winters in Texas until increased travel insurance costs began to weigh on the ‘snowbirds’.
Through their 49 years together, Helen and Sozon enjoyed traveling, having spent 17 winters at their second home in Weslaco, Texas. Their adventurous natures also took them to Hawaii, Bahamas and Mexico. They were long-standing members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Yorkton and later Canora. Together, they enjoyed attending services in the many churches throughout the area.
In 1976, Helen became an active member of the Lady’s Maria Markovich Branch.
Helen was a faithful wife and enviable cook and homemaker. She welcomed company but also enjoyed quiet times playing cards with her husband. While she and Sozon each had specific hobbies, they did many things together including socializing with their numerous friends, dancing, golfing, card playing, and gardening. Helen donated many hours of her time embroidering for the church but was particularly passionate about her annual flowers, her flower gardens being picture perfect year after year. Together, in April 2018, to take advantage of extended care, Helen and Sozon moved to the Eaglestone Lodge in Kamsack.
Born: August 1, 1930 Place of Birth: Calder District, SK, Canada Death: November 30, 2018 Place of Death: Kamsack, SK, Canada
Helen is predeceased by her daughter, Gladys Elenchuck; husband, Matt Elenchuk; brothers: Mike, Nick, George, Tony and Matt Smandych and her sisters: Mary Rurak, Rosie Horaska and Bella Robinson.
She is survived by her husband, Sozon Malinsky; sister, Ann Rurak; step-sons: Mark, Julian and Wally Malinsky and her step-daughter, Zoria Nahnybida; as well as many nieces and nephews, decedents from the large Smandych family, including Debra, Cheryl and Bryon of Gene Patchin’s family. Helen was a ‘grandma’ to Sozon’s grandchildren and everyone whose life she touched, loved her and will miss her. May she rest in peace and her memory be eternal.
In Helen’s honour, a Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 5, 2018, from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, Canora, SK, with Rev. Fr. Michael Faryna officiating. Interment will follow in the Canora Cemetery. Those wishing to make expressions of sympathy may make donations to Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, as tokens of remembrance, in memory of Helen Malinsky.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Helen Malinsky 2018..
Décès pour la Ville: Canora, Province: Saskatchewan
