Dr. Harold Wesley Trafananko

Harold Wesley, age 80 years, was called home by our Lord on September 4, 2025. Harold was born at Yorkton, SK to parents Nicholas and Helen Trafananko and raised in Wroxton, SK. After high school, he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree and then graduated from the Manitoba College of Dentistry in 1971. Harold bought a dental practice in Prince Albert and was possibly the first ethnic Ukrainian dentist in our city. He practiced Dentistry over 36 years in Prince Albert and had a satellite practice in La Ronge for over nine years. Harold enjoyed interacting with his patients. He retired in 2007.

Harold met his wife Nadia on a blind date in Winnipeg when they were both university students. As fate would have it, Nadia had a nursing job commitment in New Brunswick so their courtship and engagement were long distance. In 1972, they married and Nadia joined him in Prince Albert.

Harold had many interests. He was an avid stamp and coin collector. He took courses in carpentry and electrical which he put to good use at home and at the lake cabin. In 1993, Harold and his late friend, Dental Technician George Scheirer, set up a dental clinic in Lviv, Ukraine. It was part of the Gift of Hope project co-ordinated by the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League of Canada.

Harold served on a local school board and as President of the Cabin Owner’s Association at Weyakwin Lake, SK. He was an active member at the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Prince Albert, having served as parish Vice-President, President and Treasurer. He sang and cantored in the church choir. He carolled with his carolling group in many parishioners’ homes at Christmas. He enjoyed making perogies at the parish work bees. Harold was very proud of his Ukrainian roots and loved Ukrainian traditions, especially at Christmas and Easter.

Harold and Nadia travelled in Canada, the United States especially Florida, Bermuda, The Bahamas, Mexico, Hawaii, Ukraine, Great Britain and Ireland. Mostly Harold loved being at our cabin at the lake. There he enjoyed fishing with his family, picking mushrooms and berries and visiting with friends. We owned the cabin for 35 years before we sold it in 2020.  Harold loved being with his family. He took interest in our daughters’ school activities. One of the girl’s project was about birds. Harold called magpies Holstein pigeons and our believing daughter insisted to her teacher that their proper name was Holstein pigeons not magpies. Renaming things with funny names was Harold’s typical humour.

Harold began to experience health problems several years ago but was determined to regain his health. He rose above many challenges. He had an optimistic, never give up attitude which served him well. Tragically, Harold suffered a fatal brain injury in a fall. He passed away peacefully the next day at Victoria Hospital with Nadia by his side.

Harold is survived by his loving wife of almost 53 years Nadia, daughters Orysia (Ryan) and Lesya (Chris), his sister Joan and brother Robert (Sandy), their sons Nicholas and Robby and his sister-in-law Janice (Rick). He was predeceased by his parents, his brother-in-law Eric, his brother-in-law Ross and a nephew Brent.

A Funeral Service for Harold will be officiated by Fr. Michal Lomaszkiewicz at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, September 10, 2025 at the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 684 3^rd Ave. E Prince Albert. If so wished, a donation in his memory would be appreciated to the Prince Albert Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Box 1394, Prince Albert, SK, S6V 5S9.

Family and friends wishing to send online condolences are welcome to visit www.beaulacfuneralhome.com.  Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Beau “Lac” Funeral Home and Crematorium, Marianne Turcotte, Funeral Director, Prince Albert, SK 306-763-3322.

Вічная Пам’ять. Memory Eternal.

 

 

 

• Date : 2025-09-04
• Location : Prince Albert, SK