Sister Ephrem Olga Bilyk, SSMI
1917 — 2011

Sister Ephrem, a Sister Servant of Mary Immaculate, died in St. Joseph’s Home, Mundare, AB on Saturday, May 14, 2011.

Her life

Sister Ephrem was born in Mundare, AB to Joseph and Emilia (nee Lesniak) Bilyk on September 06, 1917. Her parents had immigrated from Western Ukraine at the beginning of the century. She attended school in Mundare.

The Joseph Bilyk family was blessed with two vocations to the religious life. Having heard God’s call in her heart, their daughter Olga (Sister Ephrem) entered the Novitiate of the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate in Mundare on July 12, 1933. She made first profession of religious vows on June 6, 1937 and final profession on August 28, 1943. Her younger brother entered the Novitiate of the Basilian Fathers, making final profession in 1940; Father Eugene was ordained to the priesthood in 1944.

Sister Ephrem was grateful for the opportunity given her by her religious community to celebrate the 1975 Holy Year by making a pilgrimage with other Sisters Servants to the Holy Land, Rome, Lourdes and Fatima.

Sister Ephrem furthered her education as a Sister Servant by taking courses in catechetics, spirituality, Ukrainian, record keeping, dress making and audio-visual language teaching. She had a sabbatical year, attending the CREDO program for religious at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, USA. For this and other opportunities for personal and spiritual enrichment and deepening she was especially thankful.

Sister Ephrem was missioned at the following homes of the Sisters Servants, where she served her Sisters and Church generously and devotedly: in Alberta: Edmonton, Mundare; Saskatchewan: Saskatoon, Regina, Prince Albert, Yorkton, Ituna; Ontario: Thunder Bay, Windsor; Nova Scotia: Sydney; New Jersey, USA: Passaic; Quebec: Montreal, serving at this mission for a total of 28 years and her final active apostolic mission, from 1984 to 2004. From 2004 she was missioned to St. Joseph’s Home in Mundare, where she devoted much of her time to prayer, interceding for the needs of all.

Sister Ephrem served in parish ministry, teaching Ukrainian School, catechism and preparing First Holy Communicants. She also was sacristan and prepared altar bread for the parishes in the area and cared for the church sanctuary and linens. She visited the elderly and sick in hospitals, nursing homes and in their homes. She spent many summers teaching catechism in outlying parishes in the prairie provinces and British Columbia. She served in the Eparchial residences in Saskatoon and Edmonton for a total of 11 years. She also performed domestic works in the homes she was missioned. Sister Ephrem served as local Superior in Prince Albert, SK.

By her quiet humble manner, simplicity, radiant welcoming smile and readiness to lend a helping hand, Sister Ephrem shared the riches of her life of prayer with those she encountered and served. Because she was serving the Lord in all those she met and all she did, she desired to offer Him the very best of her efforts. Her faithful service helped the Sisters Servants in Canada to fulfill their mission to make Christ known, loved and served. Wherever she was missioned she was fondly remembered for her gentleness, kindness and approachability with a loving heart ready to embrace every person unconditionally.

She was grateful for all and readily expressed her thankfulness to her religious community and to its many friends and generous benefactors. She loved her family and desired to share in their joys and sufferings. She took Mary, the humble Mother of God, as her model and her refuge in difficult times. She was devoted to the first Sister Servant, Blessed Josaphata, and shared this with others.

Sister Ephrem was predeceased by her parents, brothers Father Eugene Walter, OSBM, John, Peter, Paul and sisters Jean, Mary, Stephanie and Annie. Her sister Michaela and brothers Peter and Paul died in infancy.

She is survived by her brother Orest of Edmonton and sisters Elsie Elvin of Trochu, AB and Joyce Palamar of Camrose, AB and nieces and nephews with their families.

Her funeral

Bishop David Motiuk, Eparch of Edmonton, officiated at the celebration of the Funeral Divine Liturgy on Thursday, May 19, 2011, at 10:00 am in St. Joseph’s Home Chapel in Mundare. Prior to the Liturgy, Sister Rose Luby led the Rosary. Fr. Ignatius Holowaychuk, OSBM, pastor of Ss. Peter and Paul Church in Mundare, assisted at the celebration.

Sister Emanuella Kharyshyn of Edmonton led the singing. Sister Ephrem’s niece, Wanda Metz read the Epistle. Wanda also sang “Gentle Woman”, as a tribute to her beloved Aunt Sister Ephrem, during the viewing and final farewell and as the closing prayer after the memorial meal.

Present were Provincial Superior Sister Theresa Slota of Toronto and Sisters Servants from Edmonton and Mundare. Family members and parishioners also came to honour the memory of Sister Ephrem.

In his homily Bishop David thanked Sister Ephrem for responding so generously to the call of Christ. Like the Mother of God, she often served the needs of others behind the scene, doing all for the glory of God. She will ever be cherished for her quiet, gentle, unassuming spirit. Her compassionate heart, her concern for the well-being of others and her willingness to serve in so many different ways were gifts to her Sisters Servants, priests, laity and family.

Interment took place at the Sisters Servants’ plot in at Ss. Peter and Paul Cemetery in Mundare. The pallbearers were Joe Prystash and members of Sister Ephrem’s family and relatives: Brian, Randy and David Bilyk, Len Josephison, Peter Polischuk.

After the burial, the memorial meal was served at St. Joseph’s Home. On behalf of the family, Wanda Metz, her niece, shared her family’s gratitude for Sister Ephrem’s prayerful support, words of encouragement and Christian witness. The Bilyk family was especially grateful that they were able to visit her at St. Joseph’s Home in Mundare in her final years.

Sister Martha Zulyniak, superior at St. Joseph’s Home, thanked all those who came to celebrate the life of Sister Ephrem: Bishop David, Father Ignatius, Provincial Superior Sister Theresa, family members and parishioners.

She thanked the pallbearers and Emily Zuk, who took care of the signing of the Book of Condolences. She thanked those who prepared and served the memorial meal: Pauline Skubleny; St. Joseph’s Home Kitchen staff, Iryna Prystash, Rose Andruchow and Gloria Sadownyk; Vera Ozust and Liz Yaremko. She thanked Sister Ephrem’s niece Joyce for the fruit that she brought to share at the memorial meal. She also thanked Ray Paquette and Myron and Allan Dubyk for their help. She expressed gratitude to Park Memorial for their professional services.

She thanked Dr. Slaninia and Sisters Servants and family members who visited Sister Ephrem and gave her comfort in her last days and for all who came to pray and bid final farewell to Sister Ephrem.