Looking Back and Remembering
the Story of Mary Shewchuk Grassham
by
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About the Book
Mary Shewchuk immigrated with her family from Ukraine in 1897. They were one of the earliest families to settle in the first Ukrainian settlement in Manitoba, Canada. Although they had little material wealth and had to overcome many hardships, my aunt had a sense of adventure. She left the homestead in her late teens, went to the city of Winnipeg to obtain employment on her own initiative. After her marriage and a move to the United States and her divorce soon after, she carried on. She continued living in the US working as a waitress, visited her family every few years, sent pretty dresses to her sisters back home and helped two of her sisters get medical help. Mary was an ordinary young woman and had a genuine concern for the well beimg of her siblings. In her 30s she finds her true love, Roy Grassham, and marries him. Moving to various parts in the US, she follows him in his dream for a better life. Although comfort and any wealth eluded them, she stuck with him. Eventually, after settling in Oregon, the Grasshams both working led a comfort life with their son.
About the Author
Natalie Ostryzniuk has always been interested in History and Genealogy. After receiving her Masters of Arts degree, she authored a book about an early Ukrainian Canadian woman activist, “Blossoming of a Ukrainian Canadian Woman.” Natalie has been active in the Ukrainian Canadian community and in the past, she has presented a number of papers on the history of Ukrainian Canadian women at various conferences and seminars. Over the years, a number of awards have been presented to her for her activism. Natalie’s love for geneaology has inspired her over a number of years to be editor of her family newsletter, Shewchuk Family Newsletter. After receiving letters and a short story from her 90+ years aunt about the family and their immigration to Canada from Ukraine, she decided to record all the information into a book. Presently, she is an administrator with a biotechnology company in Regina, Canada.