Eternal Memory: +Maxym Lysack

Thursday, April 15, 2021

JOHNSTOWN, PA - [Diocesan Chancery] -- With profound sadness the Diocesan Chancery announces that Maxym Lysack, the father of Protopresbyter Maxym Lysack, reposed in the Lord on Wednesday April 14, 2021 at the age of 99. 

Maxym was born December 9, 1921 in Dybyny, Ostrih Region, Rivnens’ka Oblast’, Ukraine, to Martyn Lysack and Evdokiya Kolesnyk. He was the seventh of 13 children, three of whom died in infancy. The Lysack family immigrated to Canada when Maxym was 7 and settled in Minitonas, MB, where they farmed.

As a young man, “Max” completed studies at the Normal School and at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, taught for awhile in three one-room schoolhouses, and joined the Canadian government. His career took him to Toronto, where he met and married Eleanor (Olena) Gaverluk, who predeceased him in 1993. After the birth of their first son, Professor Mishka Lysack Ph.D. (Ruth Morrow) -- Calgary, Maxym and Eleanor moved to Winnipeg, where their second son, Very Rev. Protopresbyter Maxym Lysack Ph.D. (Matushka Yvonne, née Rumbold) -- Ottawa, was born. Further promotions brought Max and family to Ottawa; he would eventually become Director of Treasury Operations at Canada Post and the Director of the Canadian Postal Museum. In this latter capacity, Maxym took pride in assembling a complete collection of the stamps of Canada and, with the help of Ukrainian philatelists from Montreal, a near-complete collection of the stamps of the Ukrainian National Republic (1918).

In his late 70s, Maxym became the dear “???” (grandfather) of Anastasia and Yuliana and lived to see them reach adulthood. He was a key supporter of Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church in its earliest days, serving as its first treasurer, and remained an encouraging presence as the tiny mission grew into a full-fledged and thriving parish. Our family and church owe this quiet, generous, and Christ-loving man an inestimable debt of gratitude.

The Funeral Service will be celebrated on Friday evening, April 16th,  at Christ the Saviour Church in Ottawa, Ontario (Canada) with private burial on Saturday. 

Diocesan clergy and faithful are kindly asked to remember the newly departed servant +Maxym and the entire Lysack family in their prayers.

May Almighty God Grant Rest Eternal and Blessed Repose to  His Newly Departed Servant + Maxym and May His Memory Be Eternal!