Bohdanna Dzura

TORONTO– Bohdanna DZURA, nee: Hanuszczak 92, died peacefully with her loving daughters on Friday August 2, 2024 at Kensington Gardens Health Centre. Daughter of the late John (Ivan) Hanuszczak and Anna-Stecyk Hanuszczak, was born on August 23, 1931 in the town of Radlovichy, Sambir Region of Ukraine. In the midst of WWII, Bohdanna (also known as Darka), her mother, younger sister Luba, and her Aunt Nysha, fled Ukraine alone and found temporary refuge in a displaced person’s camp in Regensburg, Germany. Her father remained in Ukraine and joined the UPA underground insurgent army. While in Germany she studied in the regional Gymnasia (high school), and became a member of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization, and honed her superior writing skills as a writer. She was a strong Ukrainian patriot like her father and other relatives, keeping herself engaged with the youth in her camp in their quest for freedom and a sovereign Ukraine. 

Her parents and family were reunited after the War, and in 1948 Bohdanna and her family along with a new baby brother Taras, were sponsored by her mother's uncle Pavlo Stecyk already living in Canada allowing for their emigration to Canada. They arrived by air and lived in Hamilton, Ontario working near relatives, and learning English (she already spoke 4 languages) for a short time before finally settling permanently in Toronto, Ontario in late 1948. There Bohdanna immediately became immersed in the Ukrainian community, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, and PLAST, while working in her parents restaurant on Queen St West in the heart of the then Ukrainian community. In 1949 she met her much older future husband Hrihory Kupeckyj-Dzura who was a regular patron of her family's restaurant, and co-founder of the Ukrainian Newspaper Homin Ukraina. He was also an executive of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) working closely with Stefan Bandera for a sovereign Ukraina. In 1950 they were married and soon after were blessed with three daughters and 2 sons. Bohdanna was a stay at home mother and wife until 1959 when she and her husband separated (due to his covert work with OUN) and subsequently divorced in 1967. With continued support from her husband and her parents, once her children were all school aged she returned to part-time studies at university in the arts, writing, and film. She loved reading, writing articles and poetry for the newspaper, making short films, and knitting. She was very interested and involved with all levels of government and politics. She was a voice for human rights, women's rights, freedom of religions, equality, and integration of all nationalities and cultures. Bohdanna knew education was important especially for girls and women. She was truly a woman ahead of her time! She worked for the Federal government in an administrative capacity for over 2 decades until her retirement in 1996.

Upon retirement she remained an active member of the Ukrainian National Women's League of Canada, and a strong supporter of Ukrainian Culture and Heritage. Her hobbies included watching and studying film, reading, listening to classical music (she loved the Beatles also), traditional Ukrainian folk songs, and painting still life (especially flowers). She had many friends and was very personable with a lovely smile and a wonderful sense of humour. People were drawn to her for her openness and breadth of knowledge, and storytelling.

After suffering a stroke in 2000 and developing mobility issues she moved to Kensington Gardens Health Centre where she adjusted quickly with her strong social skills. She became the President of the Residents Association, and participated in all activities, programs and events. She continued to paint still life, and took up sketching people.

Bohdanna will be remembered for helping humanity move forward, her love for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Bohdanna is predeceased by her husband, her youngest daughter Maryka Dzura, and her oldest son George Dzura. Survived by her daughters, Oxsanna Dzura of Nova Scotia; Lasha Dzura (Tim Loumbardas) of Toronto; Her son, Leo Dzura of Hawkestone; granddaughter, Thalia Loumbardas (Saman Failie) of Toronto; grandsons, David Dzura (Amy) of Sherbrooke Quebec, Andrew Dzura-Willett of Angus Ont, and Michael Dzura of Toronto; Great grandchildren, Arielle Dzura, Noah Dugay-Willett, Arabella Dugay-Willett, and Kameron Failie; brother, Taras Hanuszczak (Mary Aitchison); sister, Luba (Roman) Turkevich of Potomac MD USA; nieces, nephews and cousins of the Hanuszczak, Turkevich, and Stecyck families.

The family would like to express their sincere thanks and appreciation to the wonderful staff and administration at Kensington Gardens Health Centre for their exceptional care, compassion, and support for our mother over the years, and final days of her long, well lived life.

Funeral: there will be a private family viewing and service on Tues August 6, 2024 followed by cremation. Ashes interment and a Celebration of Life for Bohdanna will take place at St Volodymyr Ukrainian Cemetery in Oakville, Ontario where Bohdanna will be buried with her parents. The date will be announced at a later date.