Remembering Marie Kishchuk (1935–2025)

In Memoriam

It is with deep sadness and abiding gratitude that we mark the passing of Marie Kishchuk, a tireless advocate for heritage and community and a woman whose warmth, wisdom, and dedication helped shape the very fabric of the Ukrainian Museum of Canada.

About Marie

Marie passed away peacefully on March 17, 2025, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of leadership, creativity, and care. She is survived by her beloved husband of 69 years, Boris, their five children, and eight grandchildren, who were the light of her life. Born in Wilkie, Saskatchewan, in 1935, Marie moved with her family to Saskatoon in 1937, eventually graduating from Nutana Collegiate and earning multiple degrees from the University of Saskatchewan—including a B.Sc. in Home Economics and two M.A. degrees in Continuing Education and Ukrainian Literature and Folklore, respectively.

Following in the footsteps of her mother and godmothers, Marie joined the Ukrainian Women’s Association of Canada in 1958 and remained active in the Hanka Romanchych Branch for 65 years, an extraordinary record of service that was recognized in 2023.

She played a leading role in several of the UWAC’s landmark national projects, including the books Pysanka: Icon of the Universe and From Baba with Love, as well as the long-running Pysanka newsletter.

Marie served as Research & Special Projects Officer at the Ukrainian Museum of Canada from 1983 to 1987 and as Director from 1995 to 1999. During her tenure, she was instrumental in cataloguing the Museum’s library and expanding its archival and textile collections. Her commitment to thoughtful interpretation and cultural integrity remains a guiding light in our work.

In 2012, she was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in recognition of her service to heritage and multiculturalism in Saskatchewan. She also served by ministerial appointment on both the Saskatchewan Heritage Advisory Board and the Saskatchewan Multicultural Advisory Council. She was honoured with a Nation Builders Award by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Saskatchewan Provincial Council in 2002.

An Honourary Life Member of both the Museums Association of Saskatchewan and the Ukrainian Museum of Canada, Marie also lent her voice to choirs, returned to piano studies after retirement, and—true to her generous spirit—trained as a Caring Clown named “Poppy” in 1998 to bring joy to those in hospitals and care homes.

To those of us who knew her through the Museum, Marie was a steady presence: a mentor, a colleague, a storyteller, and a friend. Her legacy lives on in the artefacts she preserved, the programs she helped shape, and the generations of volunteers and professionals she inspired.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to the Kishchuk family.

Вічная пам’ять. May her memory be eternal.