William Joseph Lewchuk was born on December 25, 1930 to parents Mary and Joseph. He truly was an Angel and a Saint and his sharing the birthday of Christ only reinforced this further. He was born in Thorold, ON, Canada and had one brother, Michael.
Grandma's father Nick Gural was born in Ukraine in 1901. Her mother Anna was born in Ukraine in 1900. Her sister Sophie had been born in Ukraine in 1926. Olga Gural Lewchuk was born on April 19, 1931 at home in Toronto, ON, Canada. Dad Nick had come over first and found a job, then brought his wife and daughter Sophie over. He worked in a lumber camp, furrier (dying/tanning) factory, then a plastic factory. It was at this plastic factory that he got Grandma Olga a job at age 13. She was forced to inhale paint fumes in 90 degree weather. She painted pretty birds and flowers on broaches. Anna was a seamstress who sewed mens' suits. She made all of her daughters' clothing as well and was a fabulous cook and baker. The family did not have much money, as it was the Depression. Her father rented them a house and rented out the rooms to single Ukrainian men and familes. They were forced to share a communal bathroom and kitchen. On Saturdays, the men would would buy a case of beer and sing songs, reminiscing about the old country. Anna would bake a tray of sweet roll buns. On Sundays, they would enjoy a huge pot of chicken soup. She recalls, "It was a happy time eventhough we didn't have much."
When Olga was ten, her father bought them a home. Sophie became a seamstress and went to work with Anna. Olly attended York Memorial Collegiate High School in Toronto, which her sons Larry and Kerry later attended. Olly went to work at the Bank of Commerce as a stenographer/receptionist then a teller. She then went to work as a stenographer at the King Edward Hotel and then IBM.
She met Papa Lewchuk at close friend Jennie Buzdygan's wedding in Welland, ON. Papa was 22 and still lived with his parents in Thorold. Bill (Papa) was friends with Jennie's husband and so he was an usher in the wedding. He was a drafstman in a consulting firm in St. Catharine's, ON at the time. This was September 1952. That night, all the men were chasing Olly and asking her to dance. Papa and his cousin both asked her to dance and later asked for her phone number. One weekend, one came up, the next weekend, the other cousin came up to visit her in Toronto. Papa won Olly's heart in the end. He saw her every other weekend because he shared a car he bought with brother Mike. He was kind, treated her well, and was nice to her parents. They went to a dinners or out dancing like at polka dancnig. One weekend she went up to Thorold with Papa and double-dated with Jenny and her husband.
Papa asked her to marry him casually in the car one day and she said yes. Then he went out and got the ring. They were married on August 7, 1954 in Toronto at St. Josephat's Cathedral by Father Filevitch. They spent their newlywed night at the Royal York Hotel and the next day, relatives gathered at the Gurals to celebrate. The next morning, Bill and Olly left for their honeymoon in New York City/Atlantic City. When they returned, they lived in Nick and Anna's home where they raised their children Karry (born 1955), Larry (born 1956), and Sonya (born 1959).
Olly's mother Anna died in 1970 of kidney failure at age 70. Her father Nick died of angine/heart-failure in 1975 at age 75. Bill's father Joseph (Gigi) died of old-age around 1978. He had suffered from Diabetes and smoked his own-rolled cigarettes. Bill's beloved mother Mary died of a brain anuryism after flu like symptoms in 1982. The funeral was held in Thorold, ON. Papa was very heartbroken over the death of his mother. This was the only time my mother Carole (wife of Bill's son Larry) had seen him cry. Olly's sister Sophie died of leukemia at the young age of 59.
Papa had gotten a job as a draftsman in structural steelwork in Toronto, until he decided to move to Windsor to better his family. Olly's sister Sophie and her husband had ran a hotel and made a good living. In 1972, Papa Lewchuk and partner Ron Sobrinski (2nd cousin) bought the Killarney Castle Tavern where he worked until he sold it in 1986. He retired around age 56 and pursued his full-time career as a grandfather.
While Here, He gave love and care to his beautiful wife Ollie for 52 years. He gave life to children Kerry, Lawrence, and Sonya. He was the best grandfather to Jason, Tiffany, Chris, and Vanessa. He had the privledge of meeting his first great-grandchild baby Mariah just 9 months ago.
Papa Lewchuk died on the Ukranian Christmas Eve, January 6, 2007 suddenly when his heart gave out on him. He had been preparing for a night with his wife at a favourite place, Casino Windsor. Papa died suddenly yet peacefully, on his own bed in his beloved home of thirty-some years.
Special Moments and Memories of Papa (Bill)
Papa loved to go for long walks in the early morning and he always had a sweatband on his head. He wore Halston cologne, which we loved to smell. He loved his cherished antiques and the stock market. He adored his late mother Mary's breaded pork chops and cinnamon buns. Olga's mother had always made the children Angel Wings, which were deep-fried crispy pastries sprinkled in icing sugar. Papa had a sweet-tooth and always brought home donuts from the bakery for his family. He enjoyed his ice cream like Butterscotch or Chocolate Mint. He also liked Little Debbie peanut-butter wafer bars and cashews. To put it simply, he loved food and was not a fussy eater.
Bill enjoyed mob stories like Goodfellas or Casino. He also liked Raging Bull, Rocky movies, Stallone, One Flew Over the Cukoo's Nest and recently, Walk the Line (Story of Johnny Cash). Bill loved his garden and home-grown tomatoes which he shared with those he loved. Being outside all day was his lifestyle choice and at night, he would sit on his front porch to watch the sunset or a rainstorm. He could fix anything and create inventions/solutions even if he did not have the right tools. He always took care of his wife Olly on vacations.
Olly laughs as she states Bill always thought he was right. He had to do things his way and did not have the patience to watch others do things wrong.
He used to come upstairs to bed and peep in on granddaughter Vanessa to say goodnight. When he went to Vegas in the 1970's, he took his daughter Sonya to see one of her favourites, the legendary Dean Martin at MGM Grand. He got them front-row seats because he told the pit-boss he was Dean Martin's cousin. Papa would grease a few palms for the people he loved.
Papa used to tape MTV and good channels at his business and bring home tapes for his kids to watch. After the bar closed, he sometimes would stay and drink with his cop friends or daughter Sonya. Boy he loved his cognac. Sometimes he would take Sonya or friends over to Detroit for coney dogs after the bar closed.
These past few summers, Papa would make himsel ice-cream floats in the hot weather. Grandma and Sonya made him play yatzhee and Scrabble.
