À la mémoire de
Wolodymyr “Walter” Bodnar
9 septembre 1927 –
2 février 2022
Now bee keeping to the honey of heaven while tending the garden of Eden. Wolodymyr Bodnar passed away peacefully in his sleep at the Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre, Toronto, on Wednesday, February 2, 2022 at the age of 99. Called either Walter or Vlodko by his friends and family, he will be missed by all those he met and touched in his almost century of life.
Born in the Ivanofrankivsk region of Western Ukraine, Walter developed his love of bee keeping and flowers at the early age of eight. Taught by his uncle about bees and later about gardening from his wife, his love of these pursuits and active bee keeping followed him across continents and continued until the age of 93. His unpasteurized honey was renowned and few could leave his home without a golden jar.
Walter’s life in Ukraine, on his family’s farm with rolling hills and filled with gardens of flowers, was a tremendous influence on his life. From a young age, he loved to teach others and later became an elementary school teacher in Ukraine. During his school days he met and instantly fell in love with the dark-haired, dark-eyed Irena. Even in his 90s, he would fondly tell stories about how he was captivated by her big brown eyes from across the room. They met at age 19 and surmounted adventures, obstacles and riches throughout their lives together.
They were together more than 77 years and their love and strength helped them to escape Ukraine during World War II, walking hand-in-hand in the dead of night for more than three months through Europe with Irena’s family as they escaped their beloved homeland. They walked through Ukraine, Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, were sent to Tunisia and then back to Europe, to Paris over a period of years, before boarding the passenger ship TSS Columbia in tourist class to land in their new home in Montreal on September 16, 1951.
Along the way, Walter kept countless journals and took photos to document their history, to document they were there and that they survived. His love of writing resulted in dozens of journals he started in his teens and continued into his 90s. His miles of reel-to-reel film, countless videos, and photo albums have become a treasure for the family.
Landing in Canada, Walter’s love of sweets led him to a job at Cadbury’s, leading to a long career. His grandchildren remember boxes of broken chocolates he would bring home and hide in the drawers for them to find. Even to his last day, he had his favourite chocolate bars within easy reach in his bedside drawer.
Walter and Irena knew they preferred the country to the city, so they saved and saved, and purchased three acres in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, just outside of Montreal near the Vermont border. There, on the hills of their property, they could see their beloved Mt. Owls Head and Lake Memphremagog.
Starting as a summer cottage, Walter designed and built the three bedroom home himself, slowly adding on more rooms as time went on. Retiring with Irena at the age of 55, they moved full-time to their country place. It was in a tiny Ukrainian Hamlet, called Vorochta, near Mansonville.
Walter helped build the chapel across the street from his property, and was its custodian and historian for many years, giving tours and historical lectures to various tourist groups and cycling clubs. He and Irena developed their property into picturesque, cascading flowering gardens along with a fruit tree orchard and numerous vegetable gardens. The property was so beautiful people used to stop as they thought it was a park. Their award winning flower beds were featured in commercials and in local newspaper articles. Cars would drive by to stop and look. Walter always had a kind word or story to share, a drink to offer, or a big smile and a tip of his hat to them. Together they built over four green houses, an outdoor baking oven, a chicken coop, a rabbit hutch, tons of garden beds, a wishing well, a mini-castle on a moat and more.
Their door was always open to friends, strangers, and every summer to all the grandchildren. They could both often be seen walking down the dirt road to the lake with all of them following behind.
The home Walter and Irena built was full of love and laughter and they brought that same hospitality to their home in Terra Cotta in 2007, when they moved to Caledon.They continued to have an open door in their new home in the Poltawa Country Club neighbourhood. In their 80’s they built stunning gardens of flowers that rioted in colours in bloom from spring to fall. New friends were made, old friends visited, and now great-grandchildren came to play.
Their great love for each other sustained both Walter and Irena through the years, as well as their love of family. They leave a lasting legacy behind, of a tight-knit family who cherishes every memory with them and looks fondly back on all the kindness, laughter, and adventures they helped to create. He will be greatly missed.
Walter was the beloved husband of the late Irena Bodnar; and is the loving father of Shania Bodnar, Zen Bodnar (his wife Sue Hobler), Olga Bodnar (her fiancé Bruce), and Neli Weill (her husband Paul Weill). He is the much loved grandfather of Rayissa Nascimento (husband Jorge Nascimento), Darian Slywka (partner Christina Collins), Kristian Slywka (wife Laura Slywka), Alexander Wasylyk (wife Tania Motchula), Andre Wasylyk (partner Kimberly Daly), Adrian Wasylyk (partner Joanne Hernandez), Andre Bodnar, and Darian Bodnar; and beloved great-grandfather of Isabella Slywka, Peter Wasylyk, Sara Wasylyk, Joey Wasylyk, Andrea Wasylyk, and Jayda Bodnar.
A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Demetrius Ukrainian Catholic Church, 135 LaRose Avenue (east of Scarlett Rd.), on Tuesday, February 8, 2022: due to the COVID 19 restrictions in place, as guests are required to register in advance using the registration link below – timing will be provided (link will be posted as soon as it is available.)
Interment St. Volodymyr Cemetery, Oakville. All are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations may be made to the care home that has taken such good care of him these last few years: the Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre. Donations made in memory of Walter Bodnar can be made over the phone via credit card by calling the office at 647-725-0844. It can also be made online www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/25329 or by using this website. Individuals who wish to make a contribution can also mail a cheque payable to Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre and mail it directly to 60 Richview Road, Toronto, ON M9A 5E4. Please ensure they indicate that the donation is to be made in loving memory of Mr. Bodnar.
If you wish to share your own memory of Walter or to add online condolences for the
family, please use the “Guestbook”, button of this website.
Vichnaya Pamnyat. Vichnaya Pamnyat. Vichnaya Pamnyat. In eternal memory.
Together again in eternal love.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Wolodymyr Walter Bodnar 9 septembre 1927
2 février 2022..
turner & porter funeral directors
Death notice for the town of: Toronto, Province: Ontario