Dear Friends,

In your charity, I ask you pray for the repose of my Godfather, Sylvester Remeza, whose funeral is today in Ottawa, Canada.

He was the nephew of the Ukrainian writer, Bohdan Lepky who wrote the trilogy about Hetman Ivan Mazeppa.

Sylvester never married - he did propose to a lady who was a friend of the family. She turned him down and they never spoke to each other again.

But I know they secretly loved one another, but, through pride or whatever, never spoke to each other again.

Sylvester was very pious and dedicated his life to helping his mother and sister who were stricken with cancer.

He was also a great cook and had a beautiful flower garden on St Laurent Boulevard in Ottawa.

When I met him for the first time at the age of 30, I greeted him at the door and said, "Godfather, you haven't changed much at all from the last time we saw each other!"

He thought about it for a moment and then laughed heartily . . . "The last time I saw you was at your baptism, silly . . ."

He was a scholar and dedicated to our Byzantine liturgical tradition and to Ukrainian literature.

He left a good sum of money to Ukrainian academic institutions.

And he generously included me in his will, including another Goddaughter whom I have yet to meet.

He suffered a stroke two weeks ago, and his only remaining cousin just called today after his funeral was over . . .

Anyway, may God rest the soul of his servant, Sylvester and may he repose with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

With the Saints give rest, O Christ, the soul of Thy reposed servant, Sylvester, where there is neither pain, nor worry nor sorrow, but life everlasting! Amin!

Alex

What a Life!!!!!!!

Vyechnaya Pamyat!!!!!!!!!!!

Slava Isusu Christu!

Dear Alex,

I am deeply saddened for this tragic loss.

Your humbleness when speaking about this man speaks volumes about you and your family!

The sum of money Alex refers to is an endowment Mr. Remeza left to the world renowned Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies. This endowement money will be used to preserve and help educate people about the language, literature, history, education, and culture of the Lepky era.

mohty tsey sluzhtel znakhodyty vichny myr zi Khrystos!

A humble dispora member thanks you Mr. Remeza.

Dear Steven,

Yes, you are right.

I am so happy that you said that!

Alex

Eternal Memory! May your godfather find a place of rest in the Light of the Son.

Dear Administrator,

I thank you for the compliment of your kind prayer!

Alex

May he rest in peace and may his great example be remembered.

Selam Aklie,

I don't think my Godfather would have ever thought that he would have a member of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church praying for him!

Or a Celt with a Russian accent, for that matter . . .

Alex

May his memory be Eternal!!

With my sincere condolences,
Stefan-Ivan

In prayer.

Justin

My God grant eternal rest to your Kum.

Nicky's Baba

Dear Babtsiu,

Thank you!

Yesterday, I received a call from my own Godson after a long period of not communicating with him.

It was a truly sobering experience.

I'm praying the Rosary and the Psalms for him for the next 40 days and this is really bringing me close in spirit to my Godfather.

Thank you and the others, once again.

Alex

May he celebrate with the martyrs and saints. May he pray for us, too.

Steve

You are a good Kum!

Nicky's Baba

Dear Babtsiu!

Thank you!

I have six godchildren - a real "Kumedia"

Although I take my responsibilities seriously . . .

My oldest was being really rude to his parents, they were on the point of tears.

I took to prayer - as he is over 18.

I wondered what prayer would do.

On Sunday, he bought a little dog for his mother and they embraced and cried.

I no longer wonder what prayer can do.

Alex