Today, 4 June 2026, as the funeral services are held in Winnipeg, the faithful of the Eparchy of New Westminster also bid a prayerful farewell to Sister Ambrose Stachiw, SSMI who served the Ukrainian Catholic parishes on Canada’s west coast for many years.
In the large chapel of the principal residence of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate in Winnipeg, known as “Bethany Home”, Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak, OSBM, presided at the Divine Liturgy and funeral rites for this 92-year-old servant of God who was born in Ukraine, but served the Lord and His Church in Canada for many decades.
Several priests and many Sisters joined Metropolitan Lawrence, Metropolitan emeritus Stefan Soroka and auxiliary Bishop Andriy Rabiy for a funeral service that was described as more joyful than sad as the Church in Canada bid farewell to Sister Ambrose. Some of Sister’s family members were present as well as many faithful, who poured out into the corridors around the chapel.
After returning to university in 1994, Sister Ambrose accepted the appointment to the Eparchy of New Westminster to work in the Catechetical department together with Sister Ruth Aney, SSMI this ministry continued for eighteen years. Over the years, many Sisters have served the Eparchy in many ways. We are presently blessed to have Sister Angelica Hodowansky, SSMI and Sister Janice Soluk, SSMI who serve in New Westminster and travel throughout the territory visiting our parishes.
The Eparchy of New Westminster – our bishops, clergy and lay-faithful over the years - are indebted to Sister Ambrose for her almost two decades of overseeing religious education among us. May our loving Lord welcome her into His Heavenly Kingdom and grant her eternal memory among the saints and angels.
Vichna yiy pamyat’! Вічна їй пам'ять!
VIDEO: You may watch the funeral service at the Bethany Home Chapel via YouTube. To learn more about Sr. Ambrose’s life, you may focus on Metropolitan Lawrence’s homily, which begins at 39:40, an on the eulogy delivered by the SSMI Provincial Superior from Toronto, Sister Christina Syrotynsky, which begins at 1:32:25.