Katarina Stasiw (29 Jul 1925 - 5 Mar 2017)

In loving memory of Katarina Stasiw who sadly passed away on 5th March 2017
Katarina Stasiw (Fina) born 29th of July 1925 in Prnjavor Bosnia (Yugoslavia).

She was the third child of 12 children.

Married Fedir Stasiw on 20 December 1958 in Nottingham.
Together they had a son Oleksa, 15 May 1960. Soon after a daughter Anna who tragically died in 1962. In December 1964 Oksana was born.
Katarina along with her husband became involved with the Ukrainian community. She was a prominent member of of the Ukrainian women organisation, involved in creating many Ukrainian artefacts for the community. She along with Fedir, worked to research and created costumes for the dancing group and orchestra, which had many years of use, and which were used when the dancers performed on Come Dancing on National TV.
She was part of the Ukrainian church, for many years she cleaned, looked after the church linen, sewing church clothing; continuing this work diligently and with great passion right up until she was struck with a stroke before her 86th birthday in 2011.
She had a great love of singing, and was part of the women's choir in Nottingham, taking part in many concerts and cultural events. Her voice could always heard singing at home when she was cooking or working in the garden.
A new joy came to her later as she became 'Baba' (Grandma) to 4 grandchildren Alex, Peter, Yosef and Lesya. She was central in their upbringing, giving unconditional love, feeding them with her wonderful cooking, and teaching them to play football.
She was a truly hospitable person, always helping community members who were unwell and baking enough paska (easter bread) so there was always a spare one ‘just in case someone needed one'.
Tragedy struck with the loss of her husband in 1983 but even worse her son Oleksa (Ollie) in 2001. This left her with a great sadness within her, which never really went away, but she continued to be the resilient strong woman she had always been.
The last few years saw a cruel decline in her health when, after a stroke, she was diagnosed with vascular demential, and eventually became a resident of Yolanta care home. There she became a much loved resident, still singing, enjoying chatting, playing catch with the football, and never losing her faith in God.

During this time, although she was forgetting the world about her, she revealed the person who she really was; a cheeky, curious person, full of songs, poems and faith.

She leaves
Daughter Oksana, son in-law Petro, daughter in-law Angela and grand children Yosef, Lesya and Alexander and Peter
2 sisters; Tatiana in Croatia, Anna in Australia
God-children Leo, Tania and Bohdan

May she rest in peace - Вічная її пам'ять!