Obituaries

Helen Ozga (née Oliynyk) 90, of Middle Sackville, passed away peacefully on the evening of September 11, 2024 in the presence of family. She was predeceased by her loving husband, Joseph Stanley Ozga in 2013, her parents, Daniel and Katherine (Sobol) Olynyk and four older sisters, Ann, Mary, Sophie and Stella.

Helen was born in rural Saskatchewan but spent most of her life in Toronto where she was raised and schooled before working in accounts receivable for one employer until retirement. In her younger years, Helen and her husband Joe loved to entertain, as well as visit family and friends. Helen was an avid walker who enjoyed travel to exotic places like the Holyland, China and Morocco, as well as casino excursions, with her husband Joe. Both enjoyed a good bingo game and movies. Joe even reviewed movies on Toronto radio.

Helen and Joe never had children of their own, but were very close to their nephew, Dennis Kutchera, as long as he can remember. They were like second parents to Dennis, who lived with them during university and work assignments in Toronto. Dennis and his wife Diane later bought a house in the same neighbourhood where Helen and Joe lived. After moving to Halifax, Dennis would visit Helen and Joe at least once a year and spoke with them weekly. After Joe’s passing, Dennis made frequent trips to check on Helen to see that she was doing okay on her own. Helen’s niece Barbara Kotyk, of Brooklin Ontario and her sister Carol Lacey of Burlington, were also a help to Helen after she lost Joe.

In January 2017, Helen was struck by a car while walking near her home in Toronto. The family was quick to respond to her crisis with Dennis managing her personal and legal affairs along with medical needs. When released from months of physical rehabilitation, Helen’s grand nephew Byron Kutchera moved in with her, with Dennis making frequent extended trips to assist with her medical and legal needs. Helen never fully recovered from the accident, which appeared to trigger dementia. In 2018, Dennis and his wife Diane welcomed Helen into their home in suburban Halifax where she lived out her life under their care with frequent help from their son Joe. As her dementia became more advanced, additional care was provided by a long-time friend of the family, Geraldine Skinner, whose compassion and love was well received and appreciated by Helen and her family.

Helen is survived by her nephew Dennis and his family, nieces Barbara and Carol, along with other multigenerational nieces and nephews and sister-in-law Mary.

Cremation has taken place and a Catholic Rite of Committal will take place Friday, November 1 at 1pm, for both Helen and her husband Joe, at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church Cemetery in Stellarton, Nova Scotia.