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Obituary
Octavia was born in Bucharest, Romania on June 20, 1940. She travelled with her family through Egypt, England and Palestine and ended up immigrating to Canada as a young girl. Octavia lived in a small mining town, Larder Lake, in northern Ontario. She remembered a man from Toronto from the same village coming to see her father. Her father’s families were well to do and highly educated. This man tried to encourage her dad to come to Toronto to run for politics and he would be sponsored by other well to do Ukrainians in Canada. Her father refused. He didn’t want anything for free. Instead he chose to live in a small mining town and simply work for a living. His cousin offered him a job in Toronto but it meant displacing another worker. Her dad again refused although times were hard and money was tight.
Octavia was brought up by a father with strong principles and she maintained those ethics throughout her life. Eventually she and her family did move to Toronto where her mother met Natalie Lenstra’s mother. She helped Octavia’s mother get a job. Eventually there was a legitimate opening at her father’s cousin’s factory and her dad took the job.
Throughout high school Octavia worked weekends and holidays to make money.
When Octavia’s father died, and, because he was so well respected in Ukraine, there were many offers to pay for the funeral. Instead Octavia refused these offers and bought what the family could afford without trying to impress people.
In 1979 Octavia suffered a house fire and lost all contents. It took 5 years, living at hotels and friends and subletting while trying to rebuild her home. Eventually Octavia was able to get her life in order. She was able to start travelling. Octavia became active in Ukrainian churches. She donated her spare time to charities including children’s charities. She attended many fundraisers and although she hated cooking she helped prepare food for bazaars and other charitable functions.
She taught school at Fern Avenue Public school and got her degree taking summers and winter courses until she graduated from University of Toronto in 1970. Teaching was the highlight of her life. She loved her students and just adored children in general.
She kept every class photos and gifts from all her students. Many came back to visit her and told her she was their most loved teacher and some said she changed their life.
10 years ago, she moved up to Wasaga Beach to an adult community. Friends, who also moved up passed away leaving Octavia struggling, alone with eye sight problems and other health issues making any long distant driving difficult. She missed the Ukrainian community and always talked of coming back to Oakville. Her final years were lonely with the exception of Christmas’s. She ended up being hospitalized in Collingwood and eventually took up residence in Edgewater Senior Living in Georgetown for a couple of months as she began suffering from the effects of Cancer. The last five months of her life, she was surrounded by love and support. She spent the last month of her life in Georgetown Hospital where she passed away. She will be sadly missed by her God-daughter, Natalie Lenstra, her God-daughter’s family, Krystal Lenstra, who gave her encouragement and compassion. Natalie’s grandson Oleksiy, knew how to charm her and but the moment he entered the room, her pain seemed to disappear as she lit up a smile and welcomed him warmly with every visit. Her love for children showed even in her most difficult moments. Krystal’s partner Daniel showered her with flowers and her last surviving friend Geri Morris Ziomkiewicz supported her along her journey. We all loved you Octavia and you were never alone! You will be missed as you affected all of our lives.
April 24 2023
Death notice for the town of: Georgetown, Province: Ontario
death notice Octavia Dutzak April 24 2023
obituaries notice Octavia Dutzak April 24 2023
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Octavia Dutzak April 24 2023 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.