BABA LESCHYSHYN

                                    ANNA LESCHYSHYN :  Dec. 22, 1887  -  January, 1960

Anna’s father’s name was Myron Leschyshyn.     

Anna’s mother’s name was Maria and she had red hair.

Anna’s birthplace:  Poberizhi Village near Stanislaw (Ivan Frankiw), Ukraine

Anna's Relatives in Ukraine:  Her cousin Yulia and Yulia's grandson, Roman.

  Anna's Education:  Grade 4 (considered very good for girls; most at that time had nothing)

  

                Languages:  Ukrainian, Polish

      Anna and John were vey distant cousins, but Anna’s family was wealthier than John’s.  They had good land whereas John’s land flooded.  Anne’s mother had a house servant.

 

One man told Mom that there wasn’t a prettier girl in the village than Anna.  She had hazel eyes and hair that darkened from blonde to brown.

Anna didn’t like embroidery.  She preferred looking after the horses.  There was a community pasture so the horses had their front feet hobbled and she held the ropes while they grazed.

Anna was engaged to someone in the army, but John came home from the army ahead of him and courted Anna with songs.   Anna liked John who was a very handsome man with brown eyes, dark hair, and a blond moustache. 

Anna’s family liked John’s mother and were impressed with him.  “A bird in the hand is better than 2 in the bush.”  So they talked her into dropping her fiancé.  

 

Anna and  John were married August 2, 1906. 

John emigrated to Canada alone about 6 months later.  He saved enough money to go back to Ukraine in 1911.  He intended to stay in Ukraine but the Austrian army called him up again.  He didn’t want to go back to the army so he returned to Canada, this time with Anna.

When they left Ukraine, people were putting in gardens, but when they got to Canada, it was all snow and ice.

 Anna immediately made up her mind she wasn’t staying but she was pregnant and decided to wait until the baby came. 

My mother, Mary, was born October 2, 1912, at the house of friends because John and Anna didn't have a house yet. 

In 1913, in the fall, John applied for a ship card for Anna to return to Ukraine even though she was already expecting another child, but his application was returned.  No one was being allowed in or out of Canada because of the war coming.

Anna never returned to Ukraine, but she never learned English.

 

Anna’s gravesite:  Petlura, Manitoba

                                                Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Ascension  

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 Mom said that Baba was a good cook.  More about that at another time.