Fr. Jakiw Rybalka
1929 ~ 2025

He was a father, grandfather, great grandfather and a spiritual father to all; a man whose presence filled every room, whose voice needed no microphone, and whose faith never wavered. Rt. Rev. Protopresbyter Jakiw Rybalka, beloved husband, shepherd of The Lord, and proud Ukrainian, peacefully fell asleep in the Lord on June 12, 2025, in Prince Albert, SK, reunited at last with his beloved Sylvia and those he lost long ago.

Born in Mashchanka, Ukraine, on December 25, 1929, Father Jakiw’s early life was shaped by war and tragedy. After surviving the devastation of the Holodomor and Second World War, he came to Canada not as a man broken by evil, but as one determined to serve, to build, and to believe. Arriving in Halifax, he began the next chapter of his life by working on the Canadian railways across the country laying down tracks that, in many ways, mirrored the new life he was building in a new land. Though he had witnessed the worst humanity could offer, he chose to live with honour, compassion, and unwavering faith.

On June 11, 1955, he married Sylvia Dykun, and together they began a 65-year journey that left an indelible mark across this country. From Oakburn, MB, to Smoky Lake, AB, Hafford, SK, Vernon, BC, Regina, and finally Prince Albert, they answered every call to serve, raising their family in the glow of the Church’s light. Each of their children were born in a different province and thus carried a piece of that journey, as did every parish they touched. Father Jakiw was a larger-than-life figure. His voice, rich and booming, could fill any room without amplification. A gifted speaker and storyteller, he never needed notes, only wisdom, faith, and uniquely “Father” sayings we all still repeat. He commanded respect wherever he went, but never demanded it; it was given freely, because he lived with integrity and led by example.

Even after decades in Canada, he never stopped being Ukrainian. His roots were not only preserved, they were shared with all and worn with pride. It sang through his language, his liturgies, his family, and his soul. His love for Ukraine was matched only by his devotion to God and family. To his parishes, he was a spiritual guide. To his family, he and Mother were the unshakable foundation. Whether it was hosting Christmas for the entire family or secretly buying a grandchild some ice cream, his love was shown in both grand gestures and gentle acts of kindness. To his grandchildren, he was simply Dido: warm, playful, and full of love. They could never have imagined what he endured in his youth. From facing a firing squad spared only by moments, or jumping from a moving train under gunfire, or the horrors of the Holodomor in Ukraine. That he carried such tenderness in his heart despite all he had lived through is the clearest testament to the greatness of his soul.

After such an action-packed life fit for a movie, Father embraced life’s simpler joys. He loved to watch hockey, whether that was in person supporting his family who were playing or watching on TV to keep up with his hockey drafts. He could often be found enjoying an early morning round of golf which he played well into his later years. Games of all kind were Father’s favourite, always up for playing cards with family (and usually winning).

He is survived by his children: Orysia (Fr. Richard) Ehrmantraut, Wasyl (Sally), Johann (Dawn), and Boris (Roxy); grandchildren:  Jakiw, Daria (Demyan), Layandra (Joel), Olexandre (Laura); Christina, Lesia (Colten), Nadia; Kaytlin (Keven), Josh, Luke; Mckenna;

15 great grandchildren;  sister in law Mary Micheleski, brother in law Joe Dykun, numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and dear friends, and a vast family of spiritual children and parishioners, whose lives he shaped through word and example.

They say a man dies twice: once when his heart stops, and again when his name is spoken for the last time. But Father’s name will not fade. It will echo in the walls of every church he stood in, in the voices of those he guided, and in the hearts of the family who loved him beyond words. His story will be told, his lessons remembered, and his love felt for lifetimes. Though he is gone from our sight, he will never be gone from us. We will carry him forward because great men never truly leave us; they live on in the lives they shaped.

The Prayer Service (Panakhyda) will be held on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. A Divine Liturgy and Funeral Rites will be held on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Both services will be held from The Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of Holy Trinity, 919-20^th Street West, Saskatoon. Officiated by Rt. Rev. Mitred Archpriest Taras Makowsky, Cathedral Dean; Very Rev. Fr. Charles Baxter of UOCC, and Clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. The livestream can be viewed at: https://www.orthodoxsaskatoon.org. To share memories and condolences, visit www.parkfuneral.ca. Interment to follow in Woodlawn Orthodox Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to James Werezak of Park Funeral Home, Saskatoon 306.244.2103.

Vichnaya Pamyat! May his memory be eternal!

• Date : 2025-06-12
• Location : Prince Albert, SK