Archpriest Orest Olekshy, 77, Pastor Emeritus of Holy Resurrection Church, Saskatoon, SK, fell asleep in the Lord after suffering a heart attack at his home on March 28, 2017.
Born in Calmar, AB, the son of the late Stefan and Evdokia [Fuhr] Olekshy, Father Orest was a 1963 graduate of Saint Andrew’s College at the University of Manitoba, from which he received a Bachelor of Theology degree. He continued his studies at the University of Winnipeg. In 1965, he married the former Oksana Onufrijchuk. He was ordained to the diaconate and priesthood the following year by Metropolitan Ilarion [Ohienko] of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada and served several rural parishes in Alberta. In 1975, he was instrumental in the establishment of Holy Resurrection Church, Saskatoon, SK in 1975, which was received into the Archdiocese of Canada of the Orthodox Church in America in 1986. He also served as Dean of the Saskatchewan Deanery and as a member of the Archdiocesan Council. After the repose of his beloved Matushka Oksana 1997 and his retirement, he served Saint Elijah Parish near Lennard, MB.
In addition to Matushka Oksana and his parents, Father Orest was predeceased by his brother Russell. He is survived by his daughter Ilaria [Lucien] Bissonnette of Yorkton, grandchildren Tyler and Taylor, and nieces Vicki, Valerie and Risa and their families.
Visitation and a Memorial will be celebrated at Saint Elijah Church, Lennard, MB, on Monday, April 3 at 7:00 p.m. The Divine Liturgy and Funeral for a Priest will be celebrated at Saint Elijah Church on Tuesday, April 4 at 10:00 a.m. A second Memorial will be celebrated at Holy Resurrection Church, 2202 Lorne Ave., Saskatoon, SK on Thursday April 6, at 6:30 p.m. The Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at Holy Resurrection Church on Friday, April 7 at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow in the Woodlawn Cemetery, Saskatoon.
May Father Orest’s memory be eternal!