Obituary of Zoria Sylvia Bdinka

Zoria Sylvia Bdinka of Hamilton, Ontario, in her 89th year, passed away peacefully on Saturday March 9th at The Village at St. Elizabeth Mills. Zoria is survived by her son Bruce Bdinka of Dundas and preceded in death by her husband Norman Bdinka and son Kevin Bdinka.

Zoria was born in Canora Saskatchewan on April 5, 1935, to John and Elizabeth Melnychuk. The youngest in a large farming family, Zoria was steeped in Ukrainian culture and lore. She watched her siblings, Nellie, Mary, Connie, Mike, Anne, Nick, Nettie, Anton, and Iris, venture into the world, start careers and build their own families while she stayed on the farm to care for her mom. Her dream of being a teacher was realized when she worked with Indigenous children in a progressive school run by Reverend Charles Catto and his wife Barbara at God’s Lake, Saskatchewan. Marriage and children followed soon afterward. Zoria and Norman raised their sons in the Burlington-Hamilton region where Zoria was active in sales.

Zoria had a heart of gold and an enormous zest for life. She loved having adventures and could tell great stories. As her siblings passed on, one after another, Zoria became the living heart of the family and the holder of its treasured history. Her many nieces and nephews admired and loved her. In her final years, Zoria grew ever closer to her son, Bruce, of whom she was fiercely proud.

A Funeral Service will be held at the Donald V. Brown Funeral Home, 36 Lake Ave Dr., Stoney Creek, on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at 4 p.m.. Interment at Greenwood Cemetery, 1030 Greenwood Drive, Burlington will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Schizophrenia Society of Canada are appreciated.