Shelly Lynn Bodnar was born October 14, 1968 at Winnipeg General Hospital; a beautiful baby girl for Eleanor (nee Skiehar) and Walter Kohuch. She attended Winnipeg Elementary School and then River Heights Junior School. While attending school she took piano lessons, jazz dancing, and Ukrainian classes. She continued her education, all the while maintaining part time jobs. She excelled in track and field, swimming, and Ukrainian dancing. She graduated from Kelvin High School in 1986. Immediately she enrolled into the University of Winnipeg, where she studied French immersion and the arts. After two years she took a job at Canada Safeway, where she was employed for approximately ten years. In 1994 while attending a wedding, she met the love of her life, Andy. After three years of courtship Andy proposed marriage in the house they now reside in. ON July 27, 1997 the families celebrated a grand feast wedding, after which the couple began their new beginnings in Yorkton. Immediately Shelly pursued a medical transcriptionist diploma. She passed with flying colors in 1998. Shelly then began employment at a vet clinic, and then worked at Work Wearhouse, Superstore, and finally at SecureTek. Shelly was fond of spending time at the farm, with an old house, no running water and an outhouse for plumbing, she really enjoyed that simple back to the basics style. She enjoyed the quiet life, going for walks, quadding, fishing, and crop checking. She enjoyed the neighbors that were close by, and eventually became confident in the use of the farm machinery. She had wanted to move to the farm permanently at some point in her life. She was also proud to be so close to her family roots and live close to where her mother once did. She cherished the fact that she could visit Baba Skieher any time she wanted, visiting, picking mushrooms, or just talking into the late hours at night as they were the best of friends and it was a difficult time for Shelly after Baba passed away. Shelly rarely missed family functions, especially Ukrainian Christmas, including the traditional dishes, church service & caroling. Shelly excelled at cooking, which came quite natural to her. She could compete with the best chef's, her specialty being curry deer meat cabbage rolls or prairie chicken with blue cheese sauce. She will also be remembered for her love of animals, including her dogs Chico, Angel, Zoe, Buddy, Princess and Ralph, as well as Felix the cat. Shelly was proud of her family and culture, never judging people based on religion, race, color, or their opinions. She always looked at things from a different perspective and always stood up for what she felt was right. Shelly's health seriously declined in the fall, and was subsequently admitted to Palliative Care at the Canora Hospital. The Last Rites were administered on Sunday, Jan. 11 by Rev. Rac in Canora. Shelly surrendered herself to the Lord on Monday, January 12. She was 46 years of age. Vichnaya Pamyat! Predeceased by her Baba's: Ann Shiehar (Kuprowski) & Anastasia Kohuch (Sawerchuk); Gido's: Matt Skieher and Alec Kohuch; her father and mother-in-law, Matt & Verna (Buratenski) Bodnar; as well as several aunts, uncles and other family members. She leaves to cherish her memory, her husband of 17 years, Andy; her father Walter and mother Eleanor Kohuch; her brothers, Dwayne & Kevin Kohuch; nieces Alexis & Sandra Kohuch, and nephews Dillion & Kadyn Kohuch; Shelly's 'adopted' sisters, Brenda Clark and Adeline Jefferies; as well as numerous other relatives and friends. Prayer services were held on Thursday evening, January 15 from the Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre with Crystal Bailey, B.Th. officiating. The Parastas funeral service was held on Friday morning, January 16, 2015 from the Yorkton Memorial Gardens Family Centre with Very Rev. Fr. Peter Pidskalny C.Ss.R. of St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church as the Celebrant. Cantor, Ed Pindus led in the responses. The casket bearers were Dwayne, Kevin, Dillion & Cassandra Kohuch. The cremation followed with the interment at a later date. At the reception following the funeral, husband Andy gave a tribute, as well as tributes to Shelly were given by Angie Zacharias, Cassandra Kohuch, and Brian Shymko. Condolences can be left at baileysfuneralhome.com Memorials can be made to the SPCA , 79 7th Ave. S. Yorkton, SK S3N 3V1). The funeral and cremation care was entrusted to Bailey's Funeral Home.
