Rose Yakiwchuk
May 26, 1936 – June 16, 2025
Rose Yakiwchuk passed away at her residence on Monday, June 16, 2025 in Kenora, Ontario at the age of 89.
Rose was born in Amsterdam, Saskatchewan to Dora (Domka Nikolaychuk) and Peter Semchuk. She grew up as one of eight children at her family homestead just west of Tadmore, Saskatchewan.
Rose was predeceased by her husband Henry of 58 years, and her son Rick Yakiwchuk.
She leaves behind her daughter Cindy (Paul) Van Belleghem and their children: Whitney Van Bellegehem-Morrison and husband Mitchell Morrison and their infant son Bennett; Brittan (Matthew) Amell and daughter, Iris; Ryan Van Belleghem and wife Alicia Noel and their infant son Henri (named after Rose’s husband).
She also leaves behind Rick’s family: his wife Mavis; Danielle (Richard) Lemoine; Justin (Meghan) Yakiwchuk and children Alyssa and Logan. She is also survived by two sisters Katherine (Kay) Morhart and Elizabeth (Liz) Flanagan.
In her early years she spent time working in the retail sector, and in various restaurants as a cook, including the Bus Station where she caught the attention of a young Henry. After marriage in 1957 and having their own family, Rose and Henry also became foster parents. Rose adored the youth. With grown children, Rose was later employed by Bell Canada.
Rose was passionate about her gardening and spent countless hours, morning to dusk, tending to her yard to ensure the most favourable environments for her plants to flourish. If you needed advice about gardening, Rose was the one you would ask. And, when visiting her, the family knew to expect she would put them to work doing yard work. But, in doing so, she managed to instill her love of gardening in both her children and grandchildren.
Rose was also an amazing cook and baker, often cooking in large batches. She had the ability to make a full course meal from limited ingredients. A pinch of this and a pinch of that was how most of her cooking occurred as she enjoyed making up new recipes. She was proud of her Ukrainian heritage, and it showed with her homemade perogies and cabbage rolls etc…
In some of her spare time and throughout her life, Rose was an avid crocheter, making countless doilies and blankets. She enjoyed painting and crafting and in her younger years, she sewed many of her own clothes as well as her children’s. Rose was at home doing construction and was often seen with a hammer or saw in hand.
Being raised on a farm with many siblings, Rose was taught to be a hard worker; if you wanted something, you had to work for it and don’t waste. Her early farm life did follow her, likely as she felt at home in the presence of animals. Over the years she surrounded herself with various animals (pigs, rabbits and a horse), birds (duck, turkeys and chickens), with her last pet being a cat.
If so desired donations can be made in Rose’s name to the Kenora Cat Shelter.
A private family ceremony will occur at a later date.