Olive Prokopchuk

On Sunday, February 26, 2023, Olive Prokopchuk, age 94, passed away peacefully at Sandy Lake Personal Care Home.  She was a devoted Ukrainian Catholic and received her Last Rites on February 22 administered by Father Jay Korban.

Olive was born in the Silver Creek Municipality on August 28, 1928 to John and Anna Chuchmuch.  She was the sixth of eight children and the last of her siblings to pass away.

After high school, Olive attended Success Commercial College.  She worked in Winnipeg and Toronto before her marriage to Nick Prokopchuk of Sandy Lake.  Nick and Olive were married on October 25, 1956.  Nick and Olive farmed in the Sandy Lake district and remained on the farm until they sold it and bought a house in Sandy Lake.  They remained in Sandy Lake until Nick passed away on October 31, 1992.

Olive continued to live in Sandy Lake until she found it more convenient to live in Minnedosa at the Town View Manor.  Due to health reasons, Olive left Minnedosa and moved to Sandy Lake Personal Care Home on September 25, 2006.

Olive was a fighter all her life, from the time she lost her leg when she was four years old.  She would let nothing deter her from doing what she set her mind to do.  She was able to ride a two wheeled bike with her sister, one sitting on the seat, the other on the bar, Olive using her one leg and her sister using the opposite leg!  When she was married and living on the farm she milked cows, carrying pails of milk to the house.  She raised chickens, geese, and ducks for butchering.  She grew a big garden, harvesting all the vegetables and preserving them for winter.  She found joy in doing all these things and never complained or wanted sympathy about being handicapped.

Olive enjoyed her time at Sandy Lake Personal Care.  She was a vibrant resident who loved dressing up, wearing makeup, and finding the right jewelry to compliment her outfits!  She could hardly wait for the hot weather to come so that she could sit in the courtyard and suntan.  She said that this was her “Cancun”.  She had a mind of her own and made residing at the PC very interesting for all!  She said that living in residence was like being at university.  Olive watched TV (CNN and Dr. Oz) and became intrigued with Obama and Dr. Oz!  She began clipping articles of nutrition, health, and wellness long before moving into the Sandy Lake PC and continued doing this, except this time by writing down notes from the Dr. Oz show.  She accumulated many scrapbooks and notebooks on these topics.  She tried her best to follow these “healthy” guidelines, even if she had to improvise and concoct some of these “nutritional” recipes!  Olive looked forward to her weekly shopping “sprees” from the Co-op.

Olive was very faithful to her Ukrainian Catholic Church, she belonged to the ladies’ group and attended whenever she was able to.  She enjoyed  being involved in their perogie making projects.  Not only did she read her Bible but she wrote extensive notes, filling numerous notebooks. One could find Bible verses sprinkled throughout all her journals and scrapbooks.

Olive was predeceased by her husband, Nick; her parents John and Anna Chuchmuch; her brothers Paul, Alexander, Joe, Milton and Frank; her sisters Gladys Woloshen and Genevieve Ushey; her nephews Orville Germak and Bob Chuchmuch; and her nieces Faith Melnyk and Vivian Chuchmuch.

Olive is survived by her foster son, Peter Prokopchuk; sister-in-law, Lesia Chuchmuch (Frank*);  nephew, Michael Chuchmuch and his family; nieces Diane Plant and Janis Zimmer and their families, Debbie Chuchmuch (Bob*)  and their family, as well as many friends and extended family.

Left to mourn Olive’s passing are her niece Gaylene and husband Jack Ziprick who looked after and cared for their aunt for 30 years, since the passing of Olive’s husband, Nick. Also sharing in their grief are Gaylene and Jack’s family, Darwin (Christine), D’Arcy (Gwen), Jonathan (Anastasia) and their families.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

Rest in peace, Olive.