Obituary of Rt. Rev. Fr. Eugene Halitsky

HALITSKY- Rt. Rev. Fr. Eugene 
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Right Reverend Father Eugene Halitsky on July 29, 2023 at the age of 82 years after a long battle with Pulmonary Fibrosis. Devoted husband of Anna (nee Szabat) for 53 years and loving father to Mehron (Casey), Natalka (Jason), Roman (Sabrina), and Oksana (Alan). He will be greatly missed by his grandchildren Benjamin, Timothy, Eliana, Henry, Esme, Jacob and the late Isaac. He was born January 9, 1941 in Irati, Brazil to the late Tomaz and Estefania. Eugene was one of 12 children and is predeceased by his siblings Melecio (Amelia) and Demetrio (Elvira). He will be missed by his surviving siblings in Brazil and Toronto, with whom he kept in regular contact with over the phone, Facebook and all the technologies available to him; Josafat (Maria), Sister Helena, Nestor (Irena), Paulo (Maria), Doroteia (late Sylvester), Safrona (Izidor), Nadia (Tadeu), Bernadete (Louis), and Efrem (late Rita). He is also survived by many nieces and nephews who thought the world of him. 

After elementary school at the age of 12, Eugene entered the Basilian Minor Seminary of St. Joseph in Prudentopolis, Brazil and later entered the Major Seminary in Curitiba, Brazil. From 1964- 1968, he went to the Pontifical Gregorian University of Rome Italy where he received a Bachelor of Theology degree.  During this time while visiting Bradford, England, he first met his future wife Anna at the Ukrainian Catholic Church. Under the sponsorship of Monsignor B. Filevich pastor of St. Josaphat’s Cathedral in Toronto, he emigrated to Canada in October of 1969. He worked for 3 years at Dempster’s Bread while attending evening English Classes at a college and sang in the St. Josaphat’s Cathedral Choir. On July 11th, 1970, at St. Josaphat’s Cathedral, Toronto, Eugene and Anna were married. In February 1973, Eugene was ordained Sub Deacon and then Deacon in his parish of St. Demetrius, Toronto. Under the auspices of Bishop Isidore Borecky, Eugene travelled to Rome and was ordained by the hands of his Beatitude Josyf Cardinal Slipyj on August 26th, 1973. 

In September 1973, he pastored Holy Cross Church in Thunder Bay and during his time there he welcomed his first two children, Mehron and Natalka. He was transferred to Christ the King Ukrainian Catholic Church in London, Ontario in 1978 and his son, Roman, was born during this time.  In 1980, Father Eugene became Pastor of Saints Vladimir and Olga Ukrainian Catholic Church in Windsor, Ontario and his daughter, Oksana, was welcomed into world soon after. 
He also served churches in Amherstburg, Leamington, Chatham, and St. Michael’s Slovak Greek-Catholic Church in Windsor. 

When he wasn’t in church, Father Eugene could be found in his office preparing an insightful and spiritually inspiring homily that he would deliver at a wedding, funeral or at Sunday mass. He often threw in a funny anecdote or joke and would sometimes laugh at it himself as he read it out loud. He knew that a church’s most important element was the people that it housed. He would visit sick and homebound parishioners everyday of the week, at any time, whether at home or in the hospital, and he loved this part of his vocation.  In retirement, he enjoyed gardening and tending to his first-class cherry tomatoes, cooking and watching soccer, golf, tennis and hockey.  His family meant the world to him. He adored his grandchildren and looked forward to Sunday dinners with the family. 

Fr. Eugene will lie in state on Wednesday August 2, 2023 at Sts. Vladimir and Olga Ukrainian Catholic Church (601 Lake Trail Dr. Windsor ON) where visitation will be from 1:00pm until 4pm and 5 to time of Panakhyda (Prayers) at 7pm.  Funeral Liturgy services will take place on Thursday August 3, 2023 at 11:00am. Interment to follow at Windsor Memorial Gardens. in Lieu of flowers donations may be made to Canada-Ukraine Foundation, Sts Vladimir and Olga Building Fund or to the Transition to Betterness (T2B) would be appreciated by the family. online condolences and cherished memories may shared with his family at www.windsorchapel.com