ONUKYWYCZ o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.toronto_star 2005-10-25 published
ONUKYWYCZ,
Wasyl "
Bill"
Suddenly, at his home on October 23, 2005, at age 54, in his
29th year of dedicated service to the Toronto Fire Department.
Beloved husband of Catherine. Loving father of Laura and her
husband Nelson, and Christina. Cherished son of Sofia. Proud
grandfather of Nelsito. He will also be missed by his sister
Oksana and niece Sonya
BODNARCHUK, and many other family and
Friends. Friends will be received at the Neweduk Funeral Home
- "Mississauga Chapel", 1981 Dundas St. W. (1 block East of Erin
Mills Pkwy.) on Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A Funeral Service
will be held on Thursday, October 27, 2005 at 11 a.m. in the
Chapel. Interment St. Volodymyr Cemetery. Inmemory of Bill, flowers
or donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation would be appreciated
by the family. Neweduk Funeral Home 905-828-8000 www.neweduk.com
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ONUOHA o@ca.on.york_county.toronto.globe_and_mail 2005-09-14 published
Desola Juliana
ONUOHA
By Gloria CHUKWU and Chinwe
MGBEMENA,
Wednesday,
September 14,
2005, Page A22
Wife, mother, friend, registered nurse. Born July 25, 1972, in
Nigeria. Died May 23 in Brampton, Ontario, of colon cancer, aged
Desola was a very vibrant person whose personality and beauty
charmed everyone who came in contact with her in her short life.
Desola was born and raised in Nigeria, where she obtained the
equivalent of a bachelors degree in science laboratory technology.
During her graduate internship, she met and married her best
friend Obioma
ONUOHA in 1999. They had a daughter, Kechinyere.
Desola's family emigrated to Canada in May, 2001, whereupon she
faced the reality of being a new immigrant and the need to update
her education with a Canadian education. She quickly enrolled
at the school of nursing at Humber College. It was in November,
2001, while in nursing school and pregnant with her second child,
that the colon cancer was diagnosed. The disease led to the death
of her unborn child in 2002 and ultimately claimed her own life
in 2005.
I met Desola through my friend Chinwe less than two months after
Desola's arrival in Canada. It was during Chinwe's son's christening
and, at the end of the day, it felt like I had known Desola for
ages.
She was charming, witty and down-to-earth. She had a positive
attitude toward life and never believed that anything was impossible.
Her courage and attitude carried her through her nursing program
even after her diagnosis.
Desola had the option to quit the program and concentrate on
her treatment, but she chose to do both. Her diagnosis did not
dampen her spirit and, even with series of chemotherapy and surgeries,
she continued with her nursing program and graduated with honours
in May, 2003, an accomplishment that has not ceased to amaze
many people.
Desola loved people and loved company. She had a passion for
cooking and entertaining. Anyone who knew her would not pass
up an opportunity to visit with her since it always meant good
food and positive conversation. During the vigil night kept in
her honour, some people declined to eat. A friend of hers remarked
that Desola would be upset that people did not eat at her house,
which was very true of Desola. Needless to say, that the remark
brought back memories and energized the room even amidst the
grief.
At the vigil night, several people testified to how she positively
affected their lives. One of these testimonies truly summed her
up: "Desola had a forgiving soul and was always ready to make
excuses for other people's inadequacies." She did not like to
talk about the wrongdoings of others and would divert conversations
away from any opportunity of doing that. Her belief was that
people's behaviours are influenced by what they go through and
so it is unfair to judge a person by one single action.
She was full of love and held her marriage as sacred.
She taught us a lot of things, especially to face whatever comes
our way with strength and courage. Throughout the four years
of fighting cancer, Desola held onto God, fervently praying and
never losing her faith.
She continued to show strength and be a source of courage to
her Friends. Even during her last days in the hospital, Desola
comforted Friends who visited her, instead of them comforting
her.
Desola's life confirms that life is not measured by how long
we live but by our productivity. Desola was very hardworking
and positively touched a lot of lives. As her funeral brochure
stated: "Far and near, up and down, her beautiful face we will
never see again, but the footprints she left in the hearts of
her loved ones will forever be there."
Gloria and Chinwe are Desola's Friends.
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